Ep. 104: Building Bridges: Guns, Mental Health, and Public Policy

Michael Sodini and co-host Kenny Barlow talk with Gala True, a dedicated researcher and professor, and Caleb Morse, a 13-year Army veteran and gun shop owner.

This episode explores the innovative The Armory Project (TAP) in Louisiana. Discover how this initiative is fostering community engagement, offering crucial support to individuals in crisis, and challenging the stigma around mental health in the firearm community. Through personal stories and expert insights, the episode illuminates the collaborative efforts to promote safety, support, and understanding, highlighting the positive impact of community-driven solutions in suicide prevention and mental health awareness within the firearms industry.

Gala True, Ph.D., is a Professor of Medicine at LSU School of Medicine and a Research Investigator with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is a founder and the director of The Armory Project, a VA-funded partnership with firearm retailers to promote secure firearm storage and prevent suicide. She also directs VA-funded research to support caregivers of Veterans in secure firearm storage to prevent suicide.

Caleb Morse is an Army combat veteran who has deployed multiple times supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. A Louisiana native, Caleb owns and operates the Rustic Renegade, a firearms retail shop in Lafayette that also offers coffee, gifts, and a gathering place for veterans and firearms enthusiasts. Caleb is a founding partner of The Armory Project, offering out-of-home storage options in his gun shop and consulting on the evaluation and spread of TAP to additional states.