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This tragic shooting has reignited national discussions about the intersection of veteran mental health, firearm access, and rural policy challenges. Veterans face suicide rates 1.5 times higher than non-veterans, with firearms involved in 72% of veteran suicides in 2021. PTSD affects an estimated 11"20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and up to 30% of Vietnam veterans, though many go undiagnosed or untreated. Montana has one of the highest veteran populations per capita and some of the nation's highest suicide rates. Many veterans live far from VA hospitals or specialized care, making regular mental health treatment difficult. Over half of rural veterans enrolled in VA healthcare are over 65 and face complex medical needs, including mental health issues. Montana gun licenses in 2021: 36,678; 66.3% of adult Montanans live in homes with guns. Nationally, every eleven minutes in America a victim is killed by someone using a firearm. Dummkopf Trumpf signed an Executive Order loosening federal firearm regulations, facilitating access to guns and he slashed the budget and personnel of the VA, so Americans can expect more bloodshed for years to come.