Firearm Safety

Firearms are a leading method of suicide in the United States. Every step we can take to put barriers or “speed bumps” between someone’s thoughts of suicide and access to means to end their life reduces the risk of a suicide attempt.  This page offers strategies to incorporate suicide prevention into firearm safety practices.

In the Home

There are a number of ways you can help keep yourself or a loved one safe in the home.

1. Learn the warning signs for suicide and crisis resources.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else and observe one or more warning signs, trust your instincts, and reach out. This is especially urgent if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change. You are not alone. Whether you are concerned for yourself, a child, a spouse, or someone else, help is available. Familiarize yourself with crisis lines and community resources available to you. For immediate help call or text 988 opens in a new windowopens phone dialer, or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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2. Keep guns securely stored at all times.

It’s important to keep guns securely stored at all times. This is even more important when there’s a chance that someone who is having thoughts of suicide could be able to access them. Keeping firearms in locked gun cases, using gun locks, and storing firearms in a certified gun safe are key steps that can prevent unwanted access to firearms. As an additional safety precaution, consider storing the gun safe key in a separate location outside of the home, such as with friends or family.

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3. Have a conversation about suicide prevention.

When you’re worried that someone may be having thoughts of suicide, the only way to know for sure is to have a conversation about suicide. This can be a difficult and often uncomfortable conversation, but it’s vital to talk openly and ask directly: “Are you thinking about suicide?” Asking that question does not put the idea of suicide into someone’s head.

People in gun-owning communities often have strong feelings about their right to own and possess firearms. Someone might be hesitant to give up their firearms, even temporarily, and even if they or someone else in the home is thinking about suicide. Some firearm owners may worry about losing their firearms to law enforcement if they talk about having thoughts of suicide. Nevertheless, the most important thing is to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Sometimes this means that access to firearms will have to be limited for a period of time.

The following are suggested ways to have this conversation with another adult:

  • “I care about you, and I want to help keep you safe. Do you mind if we talk about some things we can do to help make that happen?”
  • “I know a few places that will store firearms temporarily. Why don’t we go there and store your guns there until things settle down?”

If your loved one won’t let the firearms be taken from the home, there are some other strategies that might work. Consider asking if you could hold onto the keys to the gun safe or lock, or perhaps they could store all of the ammunition with you:

  • “If you don’t want to take the guns out of your home, would you mind if I hold onto the key to the gun safe/lock until things settle down?”
  • “How about I hold on to the ammo for a while then?”
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4. Consider additional safety precautions such as storing a firearm off-site or outside the home.

Putting time and distance between a person at risk for suicide and a gun can save a life. To keep yourself, your family, or your friends safe when someone is experiencing thoughts of suicide, one of the most effective steps you can take is to limit access to firearms by securing firearms safely outside of the home. There are some things to consider before transferring firearms to a gun shop or to a family member or friend. Please note that the law can change and that these tips were written based on information available in September 2022.

Storing a gun at a gun shop or shooting range
  • It’s important to remember that only the gun owner or their spouse is legally allowed to turn over a firearm for storage at a gun shop or gun range.
  • If guns are stored at a gun shop and are under the control of the gun shop, a background check for each gun as well as fees will be required by the storage facility prior to the firearm being returned to the owner. (This means you will have to pay the background check fee for every firearm you store to have it returned to you).
  • Some gun shops and shooting ranges rent lockers for a fee. If only you have the key to your locker, there is no need for a background check when you retrieve the guns as they would have remained “under your control.”
Storing a gun with a friend or family member

Friends or family members are allowed to hold onto firearms for a limited period for someone experiencing thoughts of suicide by an exemption in the penal code (see below for all requirements).

The California Penal Code Section 27545 states:

  • Family members or friends can only store or even temporarily transport or hold onto a firearm if they have a Firearm Permit (also known as “Firearm Qualification Card”). For more information on obtaining a Firearm Permit, visit: https://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/fire_facts.shtml opens in a new window.
  • In addition, a “Dealer Transfer Requirement” is required to transfer ownership of a firearm to anyone besides a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, or grandparent. This type of transfer can occur at most firearm gun shop/range locations. Fees will apply. The same process will be followed to transfer ownership back once the situation has been resolved.
  • There are exceptions to the Dealer Transfer Requirement: transfer of firearms between spouses, parents and children, and grandparents and grandchildren. The exemption does not apply to step-children/step-parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles or cousins. Important note: Even those exempt from the Dealer Transfer Requirement still have to obtain the Firearm Permit.
  • Additional safety tip: Any person transporting a firearm should be knowledgeable in firearm safety and utilize all recommended steps for safe transportation, including ensuring it is unloaded, in a locked gun case, and is being transported in the trunk of the car.
  • As of information available on in September 2022, the Safe Harbor update to the California Penal code Section 27545 does not apply to the transfer of a firearm if all of the following conditions are met:
    • The firearm is voluntarily and temporarily transferred to another person who is 18 years of age or older for safekeeping to prevent it from being accessed or used to attempt suicide by the transferor or another person that may gain access to it in the transferor’s household.
    • The person to whom the firearm is being transferred does not use the firearm for any purpose. Additionally, they keep the firearm unloaded and secured in their residence, except when transporting the firearm to their residence or when returning it to the owners in one of the following ways:
      • Secured in a locked container.
      • Disabled by a firearm safety device.
      • Secured within a locked gun safe Locked with a locking device as described in Section 16860 that has rendered the firearm inoperable.
    • The duration of the loan is limited to the amount of time reasonably necessary to prevent the harm described above.

Please note that the law can change and that these tips were written based on information available in September 2022.

Storing a gun with law enforcement

Some law enforcement departments offer temporary storage and/or permanent disposal options.

  • First, call your local police department, sheriff, or state police.
  • Identify yourself and explain your concern.
  • Ask for the officer on duty, write down their name and the department name.
  • Arrange with the officer a time and location for them to pick up the firearm if they offer that service.
  • Do not bring the firearm to the police department unless told to by the officer on duty.

What happens to the firearm?

What happens to the firearm will vary by county and department. The following may happen; however, you should identify what exactly will occur during initial communications with law enforcement.

  • The gun owner and the officer will complete paperwork.
  • If the owner no longer wants the gun, some departments may dispose of it following their policies.
  • If the department does store the gun, in most cases a background check will be required to get it back.
  • Departments that offer temporary storage may have different policies regarding how to retrieve stored guns.
What if storage or disposal isn’t an option?

Anything we can do to put “speed bumps” between someone’s thoughts of suicide and access to a firearm to end their life can help reduce the risk of a suicide attempt.

  • Lock the unloaded firearm in a gun safe or tamper-proof storage lockbox and store ammunition in a separate location. You can find lockboxes, trigger locks, and cable locks at most sporting goods stores where firearms are sold.
  • Remove ammunition and don’t store ammunition in the home until you are certain that you or the individual is no longer at risk.
  • If the at-risk person has access to your securely stored firearms, change the combinations, buy new locks and don’t disclose the location of the key, or store the key with someone outside of the home.
  • Consider placing items such as photos, letters from loved ones, and other items that offer hope in the gun safe or lockbox as a reminder of your or their reason for living.
  • Create a virtual hope box with life-affirming reminders (photos, videos, favorite music, messages from loved ones, etc.), crisis resources, coping and relaxation techniques, and a list of contacts who have agreed to be available for a phone call in a time of crisis.
  • If none of the strategies listed above are an option, you might consider requesting a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO). You can learn more here opens in a new window
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Please note that the law can change and that these tips were written based on information available in September 2022.

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Offer Hope and Reminders of Reasons for Living

  • Consider placing items such as photos, letters from loved ones, and other items that offer hope in the gun safe or lockbox as a reminder of your or their reason for living.  
  • Create a virtual hope box with life-affirming reminders (photos, videos, favorite music, messages from loved ones, etc), crisis resources, coping and relaxation techniques, and a list of contacts who have agreed to be available for a phone call in a time of crisis.

Examples:

If you are having thoughts of suicide and have access to a firearm, consider the following steps to help keep you safe:

  • Ask a friend to hold onto the keys to your firearm safety lock/safe, or at a minimum store them in a place where they aren’t immediately available.
  • Disassemble your firearm and entrust a friend to hold onto non-regulated components such as upper receivers, barrels or slides.
  • Ask a friend or family member (who is familiar with firearms) to hold onto your firearms.
  • Remember, putting time and space between you and a firearm during times of distress and crisis can save your life.