10% to Prevent
A simple fee on arms sales to fund mental health and prevent mass violence.
Make Ideas Real with EcoVox
EcoVox turns blueprints into action. Each project you see here is more than an idea — it’s a challenge waiting for the community to support, fund, or build.
By clicking below, you can:
- Vote to show your support.
- Pledge what you’d pay (for products).
- Signal your interest (for causes).
- Your input helps innovators, funders, and collaborators see what the world wants most
This is the core of EcoVox — collective voices driving real change.
Overview
Since the mid-20th century, the United States has dismantled much of its mental health infrastructure. In 1955, there were roughly 339 state psychiatric hospital beds per 100,000 people. By 2000, that number had fallen to just 22 beds per 100,000 — and today it’s closer to 10 beds per 100,000, an over 90% decline in capacity.
At the same time, the number of mass shooting incidents has risen sharply. In the 1970s, they averaged only a handful per year. By the 2000s, they had grown into the dozens annually — with 48 incidents in 2023 alone.
The correlation is clear: as support systems were cut, violence escalated. 10% to Prevent offers a structural fix: dedicating a small portion of arms sales to rebuild the mental health safety net, so families and communities don’t have to live in fear.
The Problem
Gun violence in the U.S. is not only a political issue, but a public health crisis. Millions suffer from untreated mental health challenges, while families live in fear of the next mass shooting. Current funding is reactive — focused on aftermath — rather than prevention.
Despite the sharp divide between gun owners and non-owners, both groups share a common concern: protecting their children, loved ones, and communities from violence.
The Idea
Guns, like fishing poles or skis, are often luxury items for sport and recreation. Most sportsmen are willing to pay a small fee to enjoy their hobby responsibly, knowing it protects their families and society at large.
By dedicating 10% of every arms sale to mental health, we build a steady, apolitical revenue stream for prevention. This approach respects responsible firearm culture while ensuring safety for all.
How it Works
Solving health issues before they become dangerous
Fee Applied
A 10% surcharge is applied to all arms sales.
Funds Allocated
Revenue is directed into mental health programs and community prevention services.
Impact Delivered
Safer schools, stronger families, and fewer acts of preventable violence.
Why it Matters
- Every year, tens of thousands of Americans are harmed or killed by gun violence — yet other nations with legal gun ownership don’t face the same epidemic.
- Countries like the Czech Republic allow firearms but combine that with affordable health care and stronger community networks, making mass shootings rare.
- In places like Guatemala or Honduras, guns are common, but violence emerges through organized crime rather than lone attacks — again, pointing to family and social structures as the key difference.
- In the U.S., the family unit has weakened, isolation has grown, and mental health services are fragmented. Guns without support systems create a uniquely volatile mix.
- That’s why 10% to Prevent matters. By dedicating a small portion of arms sales revenue to mental health and family support, America can close this gap — protecting both gun owners and non-gun owners alike.
Download the Builder's Toolkit
Use this toolkit to adapt the concept in your state or community. Whether you’re a policymaker, advocate, or researcher, the materials will help you test and implement 10% to Prevent.
Get Involved
Every Ecovox concept is open-source. If this idea speaks to you, there are three ways to help it grow
Fund
Contribute to Ecovox’s general fund to support more projects like 10% to Prevent.
Collaborate
Partner with us to adapt this policy in local governments, universities, or advocacy groups.
Share
Spread this concept across social media and community forums to build awareness and support.
FAQ
Is this a nonprofit?
We’re a public-service blueprint studio. Concepts are released free for anyone to build.
Is this open-source?
Yes—concepts are free to adapt and share.
Where does my contribution go?
Contributions currently go to EcoVox’s general fund to support toolkits, explainers, expert review, and development of all concepts. When a concept enters a dedicated funding phase, we’ll notify contributors first.
Will I be credited?
Yes — you may optionally be listed on our Supporters page or on individual concept pages. Just reply to your confirmation email.
Can companies partner?
Yes—please use the contact form to connect.
Will you run pilots?
We publish blueprints openly. Partners are welcome to run pilots, and we may collaborate directly where there’s strong alignment.
Partner with Us
Universities, NGOs, and companies—let’s collaborate on research, pilots, or bringing this to market.
Ready to Move Forward?
Support this IdeaDownload Tookit
Download