A suicide prevention program initiated in 2016 by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) did not achieve its goal of reducing the suicide rate by 20 percent by 2025 and has now been secretly shut down. Internal documents reveal that the program, known as Project 2025, prioritized the interests of the gun industry over effective prevention strategies, with AFSP even instructing staff to avoid terms related to gun control at public events.
Data shows that suicides involving firearms continued to rise during and after the program’s lifespan, with over 27,000 such deaths reported in 2023, accounting for 55 percent of all suicide fatalities. Despite the lack of measurable success and the recent closure of Project 2025, AFSP maintains its partnership with the NSSF but has been reportedly cautious about transparency regarding the initiative’s termination.
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