Katie Fox
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chemykatie.bsky.social
Katie Fox
@chemykatie.bsky.social
74 followers 93 following 4 posts
Jew ✡️ | Scientist 👩‍🔬 |
Giffords Gun Owners for Safety Senior Ambassador | Survivor of suicidal ideation & gun suicide loss 💚💜 | Mental health advocate 💙
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I shared part of my survivor story at the House Public Safety-Firearms subcommittee as a rep of @giffords.org #GunOwnersForSafety supporting Del Mike Feggans' secure storage bill HB1597. I've added my public comments here.

Responsible gun owners believe in education & storage. Everyone should.
Me, as a representative of Giffords Gun Owners for Safety, after providing public comment in subcommittee The terribly fuzzy screen-capture from the meeting recording. Good afternoon, members of the committee. My name is Katie Fox, and I’m here as a representative of the Virginia chapter of Giffords Gun Owners for Safety and as a proud gun owner deeply committed to promoting responsibility and safety within our community. I’m speaking in strong support of House Bill 1597. This bill is personal to me. My life was saved by secure firearm storage. I come from a family of responsible gun owners, a tradition that goes back generations. Guns were not only a part of our family culture—they were a lifeline, helping put food on the table during hard times. My father kept three large gun cabinets in the master bedroom, and they were always locked. From middle school, I began battling depression, and there were moments I seriously considered ending my life. The only reason I didn’t act on those thoughts was because I couldn’t access my dad’s guns. I knew they were the only way to be certain, and I didn’t want to risk any attempt not working. Tragically, my friend in high school didn’t have the same protection. Our sophomore year, he found an unsecured firearm at a friend’s house and ended his life in their garage. That loss changed me forever. HB 1597 is vital for saving lives. It upholds the values of responsible gun ownership by requiring secure storage, penalizing unsafe practices, and educating the public on the importance of these measures. Ensuring firearms are safely stored doesn’t infringe on rights—it protects children, families, and communities from preventable harm. I urge you to support this bill to make Virginia safer for everyone. Thank you for your time.
January 17, 2025 at 4:44 AM