On May 5 and May 12, groups of Behavioral Health and Primary Care providers from GHC-SCW gathered at Max Creek Outdoors in Oregon, Wisconsin, for a unique firearm safety training session facilitated by shop owner Steve D’Orazio and UW Health Family Medicine Physician James Bigham. These hands-on training sessions provided a crucial opportunity for healthcare professionals to deepen their understanding of firearm ownership, use and storage and build trust with patients, strengthen their role in suicide prevention efforts and develop clinical skills for discussing firearm injury prevention.
The first half of the session consisted of a show-and-tell demonstration covering firearm basics, safety and securing options, the purchasing process and more. This gave the providers a great opportunity to share their relationship with firearms and ask questions in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment.
For many providers, this was their first time interacting with firearms in a controlled and educational setting. This experience allowed them to engage thoughtfully in a topic that often carries weight, especially in the context of mental health. Understanding the practical aspects of firearm ownership, including safety features and storage solutions, help clinicians have more informed and respectful conversations with patients who own guns.
“Lock them up” was a consistent theme during the morning as the main topic was how we can protect our communities and, most importantly, our children. GHC-SCW Behavioral Health providers offer free gun locks to patients who need them.
The training also emphasized how clinicians can play a key role in firearm injury prevention. By learning how to approach the topic of firearm safety in nonjudgmental ways, providers are better equipped to screen for risk factors like access to unsecured firearms in households where someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts or mental health crises.
Attendees had the opportunity to visit the range and participate in a supervised shooting experience with guidance from the shop’s owner.
This optional range component offered participants a chance to experience firearm use firsthand, building comfort and confidence in discussing firearm-related topics with patients. This experiential learning helped demystify the subject for many, making future patient conversations more empathetic and practical.
Max Creek is involved in a program where someone in a behavioral health crisis can drop off their firearms or the firearms of a loved one at the store free of charge with no questions asked, for as long as they need. Max Creek will store them in locked safes until the owner is cleared with a background check and can return to retrieve their firearm.
This secure storage option is a powerful tool for suicide prevention, offering families and individuals in crisis a non-stigmatizing way to reduce immediate risk. Programs like this can serve as a model for how communities, clinicians and gun shop owners can collaborate for public safety and mental health.
Why This Matters
This training reflects a growing recognition that firearm safety is a public health issue, and that effective prevention starts with understanding. By participating in these sessions, providers increase their clinical knowledge and strengthen their connection to the communities they serve. This kind of cultural competency is essential for effective, compassionate care in rural and urban areas.
As these training sessions continue, one clear message echoes: “Lock them up.” Safe firearm storage is one of the most effective ways to prevent accidental shootings, suicides and unauthorized access, especially by children or individuals in crisis. Healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to share this message with patients and families in a supportive, respectful way and rooted in care.
The more we normalize conversations about secure storage, the more lives we can protect. Through education, collaboration and continued outreach, we can ensure that this critical message reaches every home in every community.
With sadness, we share that Steve D’Orazio passed away on May 14, 2025. We are grateful for his contributions to GHC-SCW and the broader community. His commitment to firearm safety education, including training medical professionals, made a lasting impact and will be remembered.
