Opinion | A retired Marine explains why veterans must help prevent gun violence at home.

"In today’s society, veterans often carry a privileged position; we are seen as leaders due to our decision to raise our hands and offer to give our lives to defend America’s ideals. But it is also our duty to continue to serve by having honest conversations about guns. We have to talk, both to each other and to the public at large, about the effect of guns in the hands of those who are in crisis and become a danger to themselves or others. Access to guns by such individuals ends in death and heartbreak far too often, and if we don’t start having the hard conversations now, it will continue to be so. We’ve lost friends to gun violence in war, and to gun suicide at home. To honor them is to stand up and lead the gun violence prevention conversation.

Many veterans, myself included, come home from war with our experiences hanging over us. Fortunately, access to mental health care is becoming destigmatized in the veteran community, but millions of veterans are still not receiving the care they need. Without proper care, we often experience moments of crisis where we consider harming ourselves or others as the best way to act on the pain brought about by the wounds of war".