Opinion: We need to talk about gun safety and suicide

Last spring, my friend David and I took an overdue walk along the Pacific Ocean to catch up.

The sun was bright, but as we talked, David’s world grew increasingly dark. His 25-year marriage was falling apart, his prostate cancer had returned, and two vertebrae remained broken. He couldn’t see a way forward.

A couple days later when I called to check in, I heard something in his voice that alarmed me.

The hopelessness and resignation had deepened. When I inquired if he was thinking about suicide...