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Secure Gun Storage

    Secure Gun Storage

      What does this solve?

      Gun owners can make their homes and communities safer by storing their guns securely. This means storing them unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.

      Research shows secure storage practices play a vital role in reducing the risk of gun violence. Storing firearms securely protects children and adults by preventing unintentional shootings, gun suicides, and gun theft.

      How it Works

      Secure storage prevents shootings by disrupting unauthorized access to firearms.

      Guide to Secure Gun Storage Devices Report

      Many states and Washington, DC, as well as several cities including New York and San Francisco, have enacted gun storage laws that hold gun owners accountable when children can or do access an unsecured gun. The strongest systems have consequences for any failure to secure a gun. Less-strong policies, sometimes called “Child-Access Prevention (CAP) laws,” penalize gun owners only if a child actually gains access to a firearm. While some state laws are concerned only with the threat of child access, others also include consequences if an un-secure gun is likely to be obtained by an adult who is legally prohibited from possession. 

      Public awareness is also critical to ensuring that guns are stored securely. Everytown’s Be SMART campaign is one of many models that can be used by public officials and members of the community to build awareness of the importance of secure firearm storage.

      School districts across the country have also taken action by passing resolutions to require that information be sent home with students to educate parents about the importance of securely storing any firearms they own.1Students Demand Action, “Urge Your School Board to Act on School Safety,” January 26, 2022, https://studentsdemandaction.org/report/urge-your-school-board-to-act-on-school-safety/. And in 2022, California became the first state in the country to enact a statewide secure storage notification policy.2Everytown for Gun Safety, ”Following Tireless Advocacy by California Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action, California Legislature Passes Groundbreaking Gun Violence Prevention Bills,” press release, August 9, 2022, https://www.everytown.org/press/following-tireless-advocacy-by-california-moms-demand-action-students-demand-action-california-legislature-passes-groundbreaking-gun-violence-prevention-bills/.

      We are all safer when guns are stored unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition. One study found that households that locked both firearms and ammunition were associated with a 78 percent lower risk of self-inflicted firearm injuries and an 85 percent lower risk of unintentional firearm injuries among children and teens, compared to those that locked neither.3David C. Grossman et al., “Gun Storage Practices and Risk of Youth Suicide and Unintentional Firearm Injuries,” JAMA 293, no. 6 (2005): 707–14, https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.293.6.707. Another estimated that if half of households with children that have at least one unlocked gun switched to locking all their guns, one-third of youth gun suicides and unintentional deaths could be prevented, saving an estimated 251 lives in a single year.4Michael C. Monuteaux et al., “Association of Increased Safe Household Firearm Storage with Firearm Suicide and Unintentional Death Among US Youths,” JAMA Pediatrics 173, no. 7 (2019): 657–62, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1078.

      By the numbers

      UNLOAD, LOCK, AND SEPARATE

      Assume children and teens can find guns. Store firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      26 states have adopted this policy

      AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Alabama has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Alaska has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Arizona has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Arkansas has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      California has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      Any time not in owner’s immediate control
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      Yes

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Colorado has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      When child may or is likely to access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      Yes

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Connecticut has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      Any time not in owner’s immediate control
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      Yes

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Delaware has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      Yes

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Florida has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 16
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Georgia has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Hawaii has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      Any time not in owner’s immediate control
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      Yes

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Idaho has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Illinois has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 14
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Indiana has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Iowa has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 14
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Kansas has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Kentucky has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Louisiana has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Maine has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 16
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Maryland has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      When child may or is likely to access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Massachusetts has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      Any time not in owner’s immediate control
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Michigan has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Minnesota has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      When child may or is likely to access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Mississippi has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Missouri has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Montana has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Nebraska has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Nevada has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      When child may or is likely to access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      New Hampshire has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 16
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      New Jersey has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 16
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      New Mexico has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      New York has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      When child may or is likely to access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 16
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      Yes

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      North Carolina has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      North Dakota has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Ohio has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Oregon has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      Any time not in owner’s immediate control
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Rhode Island has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      Any time not in owner’s immediate control
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      Yes

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      South Carolina has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      South Dakota has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Tennessee has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Texas has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 17
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Utah has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Vermont has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      Yes

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Virginia has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      When child may or is likely to access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 14
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Washington has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 18
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      Yes

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      West Virginia has not adopted this policy

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Wisconsin has adopted this policy

      When does the law apply?
      After child gains access
      How does the state define child?
      Under 14
      Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
      No

      Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

      Wyoming has not adopted this policy

      Myth

      Storage devices defeat the purpose of owning a gun by putting barriers between the gun owner and their means of defense.

      Fact

      There are many affordable options for firearm storage that provide owners with quick access to their guns while still preventing access by children and people at increased risk of harming themselves or others. Further, it is possible that unsecured guns may actually increase the likelihood of crime and violence through an increased risk of gun theft. Each year, an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 guns are stolen, and many are funneled into the underground market, where once-legally-owned firearms can be transferred to people with dangerous histories.

      Featured Resources

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      Did you know?

      States with laws that hold gun owners accountable when children access unsecured guns saw an 8 percent decrease in overall suicide rates, and an 11 percent decrease in firearm suicide rates, among adolescents aged 14 to 17.

      Webster D.W., Vernick J.S., Zeoli A.M., & Manganello J. A. “Association between youth-focused firearm laws and youth suicides”. JAMA. (2004). https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.292.5.594