Every Cannon Safe that is sold contains a flyer for Walk the Talk America is included in them. Walk the Talk America, is an organization that Cannon Safe supports and has overlapping common goals. Both share beliefs that by improving the quality and availability of mental health resources to gun owners we can reduce suicide by firearm. To do this, Cannon Safe and WTTA have partnered with each other to educate mental health professionals about gun culture and break negative stigmas around mental health for gun owners.

WTTA Founder, Michael Sodini is known by many as the most “un-gun gun guy”. Since 2009, he owned and operated his family’s successful firearm company, Eagle Imports. A chance encounter one evening in 2018 changed everything when Michael and his National Sales manager invited a stranger to join them at their dinner table. The conversation naturally shifted to gun violence in America. The young woman asked.

What happens when there is a school shooting?

Michael explained that one side blames the gun while the other side blames mental health. Because of this, unfortunately, nothing is ever resolved. All too often, firearms owners were foregoing mental health services for fear of losing their firearm rights, while many mental health practitioners lacked the training to properly serve members of the 2A Community. In July 2018, Michael founded Walk the Talk America to address the issue head-on.

Safes come into play with WTTA because they are the last line of defense for those that are in crisis. Not only can we promote responsible storage together, but we can help people that need it with resources and movements like #causeapause and "train as hard with your safety as you do with your firearm." When people are in crisis, these programs can help with direction and give hope.

“Companies like Cannon want to be more than just a company that sells safes. They are taking their corporate social responsibility seriously and it's going to save lives,” Mike Sodini said in a recent interview on where safes come into play in saving lives.

Some things people can do when it comes to gun culture, mental health, and responsible gun ownership is continued education and resources. Have the tough discussions when it comes to mental health, suicide, and responsible firearm ownership. Create a plan when someone in the house is going through a temporary crisis.

“Take the information that Cannon is giving you seriously because it might just be the thing that saves you or someone in your household's life and helps you continue with your pursuit of happiness,” Sodini adds.