WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs (SVAC) Committee, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) spoke with Dr. Thomas O’Toole, the Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Health for Clinical Services and the Deputy Medical Officer for Veterans’ Health Administration for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about the need to prioritize preventative measures to mitigate veteran suicide. During the exchange, Dr. O’Toole agreed that Senator King’s bipartisan legislation to provide veterans with a firearm lockbox would decrease veteran suicide by creating a time and space barrier between suicidal ideation and lethal action.

“I want to turn to one other point. 74% of veteran suicides involve firearms. With female veterans it is even higher. Senator Sheehy from Montana and I have a bill that basically would have the V.A. provide a free lockbox to veterans who ask for them. They don't have to be connected to the V.A., they just have to be veterans. It is a voluntary program. The whole idea is to have some space between the idea of suicide and going through with it. Lock boxes are one way to do that. Is this something that makes sense to you?” questioned Senator King.

“It is, Senator. I think anything we could do to create space between the idea and the action is critically important and the literature in the data supports that. I know that is not one of the bills we are here to discuss today, but the notion of lethal means safety and strategies for how to best facilitate that, including the use of lockboxes, is something the V.A. is very interested in working with the committee on,” replied Dr. O’Toole.

“I'm hoping to get the bill in the next round. It seems to me the glaring number, 74%, involving firearms, that gives us a place where we need to focus,” said Senator King.

Introduced with Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) in March, the Saving Our Veterans’ Lives Act would:

• Offer lockboxes to veterans with or without identified risks, and with or without VHA-enrollment;
• Allocate sufficient funding for lockboxes;
• Distribute lockboxes both through the VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Services (PSAS) and firearm retailers;
• Promote public education campaigns.

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King has been a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act.  Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans” and in February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. In a recent SVAC hearing, Senator King stressed the importance of supporting servicemembers shifting to civilian status; the first few months after leaving active duty are often the most fragile for veterans and put them at an increased risk for self-harm and suicide.

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