MMA Helps Lead Panel Discussion on Firearm Safety at NAMI-Minnesota State Conference

November 6, 2025

The MMA helped facilitate a panel discussion on firearm safety at NAMI-Minnesota's annual state conference on November 1 in St. Paul.   

Juliana Milhofer, JD, MMA’s manager of public health policy & community health partnerships, served as the moderator for a session titled, “Examining Firearm Safety Through a Clinical and Legal Lens.” 

Panelists included: Patricia Jewett, PhD (left); Suzanne Jasberg, MD; Megan Walsh, JD; Juliana Milhofer, JD.

Drawing on expertise from medicine, public health, and the law, the panel explored the intersections of firearm access, responsible ownership, and preventive safety measures. Panelists discussed the clinicians' role in counseling patients on firearm safety, including how to discuss risk assessment, and safe storage practices. The panel also looked at Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), and the important role that these crisis intervention tools can play. The session aimed to foster a respectful dialogue on evidence-based strategies that can be implemented to reduce firearm-related injury and death. 

In addition to Milhofer, the panelists included:  

• Suzanne Jasberg, MD, vice president of psychiatry, Sagent Behavioral Health 

• Patricia Jewett , PhD, assistant professor, division of environmental health science, University of Minnesota School of Public Health 

• Megan Walsh, JD, director, visiting assistant professor of law, University of Minnesota Law School Gun Violence Prevention Law Clinic 

The panel session stemmed from efforts that the MMA is partnering on with Protect Minnesota, the University of Minnesota, the St. Cloud VA, and others to prevent suicide and promote safe, voluntary firearm storage.  More information about this project, and a link to the firearm storage map that has been created can be found here.