Annually, Walk the Talk America has conducted an important survey. This year’s “Guns AND Mental Health Survey” rolled out on Sept. 1 and runs until Sept. 30. Consider taking it.
Every year since they’ve been conducting these surveys, we’ve been supportive of them. While WTTA is not a “professional” survey company, that does not mean that the work that they’re doing isn’t meaningful. As their team gathers more data, the better enabled they are to help aid gun owners when it comes to potentially harmful policy. This year’s survey runs for a month and we hope you’ll think about taking it.
First, who are Walk the Talk America? They’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group that specializes in bridging the gap between the mental health world and firearms industry/community. Founder Michael Sodini started the organization because he saw a need that wasn’t being fulfilled by either side of the firearms debate.
Sodini often says that each side will point a finger at the other, saying they’re to blame for so-called gun violence, completion of suicides via a firearm, and/or accidental deaths due to firearms. WTTA’s goal is to cut out the noise, have a dialog, and find solutions that don’t include infringing on the rights of gun owners.
This is a group of gun owners for gun owners.
“Help shape practical prevention that respects responsible gun ownership,” the WTTA survey page says. “Firearm owners understand firearm culture better than anyone. That perspective matters.
“Walk the Talk America is conducting an anonymous survey to better understand how firearm owners think about mental health, seeking support, and firearm storage during periods of increased stress.
“This is not about judgment, lobbying, or pushing a policy position. It is about listening to the firearm community and building culturally informed prevention efforts grounded in trust, personal choice, and real-world experience.”
WTTA further states that by taking the survey you will help WTTA:
- Better understand the needs and perspectives of firearm owners
- Support culturally informed mental health education
- Improve practical, voluntary prevention resources
- Encourage responsible storage conversations grounded in real-world experience
- Build trust between the firearm, mental health, and public health communities
The 2026 survey takes eight to 10 minutes to fill out and is anonymous.
Once respondents follow the link to start the survey, they’re greeted by another message. “Our goal is to learn directly from the firearm community,” WTTA explains. “Not to judge, advocate for policy positions, or identify individual respondents, but to better inform educational resources, research, and voluntary suicide prevention efforts that respect both responsible firearm ownership and personal privacy.”
The first question is a qualifier question. They want to know if you own a firearm. Or, if you don’t, if you live with someone that does own a gun.
Other questions revolve around how you view yourself as a gun owner — or would classify yourself, questions about your stress level, understanding of mental health topics, your habits when it comes to mental health wellness, what level of care would you seek if you were in crisis, and important questions about your views on how your rights might be affected if you ever seek mental health help.
Having taken this survey myself the last few years, there seem to be some more honing in and minor changes. Other areas are a bit more inclusive in different scenarios. It appears that some of the changes might be driven by past feedback. But the process was simple.
This topic of mental health and the firearm community is an important one. If gun owners are not part of the conversation, they’ll certainly be ignored. But if we show up and participate — even begrudgingly — we have a shot at being represented.
The good folks at Walk the Talk America are doing yeoman’s work to ease some of this burden on the everyday gun owner in addition to finding solutions and fostering dialogue about some of the tough questions we’re faced in society.
If you have the time, consider taking the survey. The work that they’re doing will culminate to bigger and better things — and really, for the betterment of the Second Amendment community. If you’re interested in learning more about Walk the Talk America, you can visit them online at WTTA.org and the survey is available HERE.
Editor’s Note: President Trump and Republicans across the country are doing everything they can to protect our Second Amendment rights and right to self-defense.
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