The Evidence on Safe Firearm Storage, Without the Hype

Key takeaways

• Safest storage: unloaded and locked, with ammunition locked separately
• Locking devices: gun safes, lockboxes and cable or trigger locks
• Most useful single change: Lock up every firearm, every time it is not in your direct control.
• Commonest mistake: Relying on hiding places instead of locks.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

What it is

Storing firearms in ways that keep them out of reach of children, teens and anyone at risk of harming themselves or others. It sits within Injury Prevention. The table below gives the figures guidance actually works from.

The numbers, in one place

What helps

You do not have to do all of it, and you do not have to start today.

• Lock up every firearm, every time it is not in your direct control
• Ask about firearm storage before your child visits or stays at another home
• Teach children to stay away from a gun they find and tell an adult right away
• If someone in the home is in crisis, consider temporarily storing guns outside the home

What to avoid

Things that seem reasonable and are not.

• Relying on hiding places instead of locks
• Storing a loaded gun in a nightstand or car
• Assuming children are too young to find or fire a gun

In depth

Firearms are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the US. Many of these deaths are preventable through how guns are stored. Children are naturally curious and often know where guns are hidden at home, even when parents believe they do not. Children who find a gun often handle it, even after being taught not to. Teaching is helpful, but it cannot be relied on alone; locked storage is what protects them.

Storage also plays a major role in suicide prevention. Suicidal crises can be brief, sometimes lasting minutes or hours. During that time, what a person can reach matters. Firearms are far more lethal than most other methods, so access to a gun makes it much more likely that a suicide attempt will be fatal. Putting time and distance between a person in crisis and a firearm gives the crisis a chance to pass and allows help to arrive.

Safe storage means storing guns unloaded and locked, with ammunition locked separately, so that no one without permission can access them. This applies to every gun in the home, every time it is not in your direct control. Safe storage is a practice that gun owners and non-owners can both support, and it does not depend on any particular view about gun ownership. It is simply about keeping firearms out of the wrong hands.

Signs and symptoms

• Guns stored loaded, unlocked or in places such as drawers, closets or vehicles
• Keys or combinations kept where children or teens could find them
• A child or teen who knows how to access a gun in the home
• A household member talking about wanting to die or feeling hopeless
• Major stress, such as a breakup, job loss or legal trouble, in someone with access to firearms
• Signs of depression, substance use or violent behavior in a household member

Causes and risk factors

• Storing guns loaded or unlocked
• Relying on hiding places instead of locks
• Children's curiosity and teens' impulsivity
• Suicidal thoughts, depression or crisis in someone with access to a gun
• Alcohol or drug use around firearms
• Dementia or other conditions that affect judgment
• Domestic violence in the household

How it is checked

Pediatricians and other health care providers may ask whether there are firearms in your home and how they are stored. This is part of routine safety counseling, like asking about car seats or pool fences, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it. Your answers help your provider offer practical advice and resources.

If someone in your household is at risk of suicide, a doctor or mental health professional may talk with you about reducing access to lethal means, including firearms and medicines. This is called lethal means counseling. It focuses on keeping the person safe during a period of risk and on practical options for temporary storage outside the home.

Treatment and support options

Choosing a locking device

Options include gun safes, lockboxes and cable or trigger locks. Gun safes and lockboxes offer the most security and can hold ammunition separately. Cable locks are low cost and are often available free from local law enforcement or safety programs. Choose a device that suits how many firearms you have and how you use them.

Keeping keys and codes secure

Store keys and combinations where children and teens cannot access them, and change combinations if you think someone has learned them. Avoid obvious codes such as birthdays. Some safes use biometric locks, which can add convenience, but make sure they are reliable and secure.

Temporary storage outside the home

If someone in the home is in crisis, consider moving firearms out temporarily. Options may include a trusted friend or relative, a gun shop, a shooting range or local law enforcement, depending on your state's laws. Some states also have extreme risk protection orders, which allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from someone at high risk.

Talking with other families

Before your child visits another home, it is reasonable to ask whether there are firearms and how they are stored, just as you would ask about pools or pets. Keep the question simple and non-judgmental. Many parents appreciate being asked, and it helps make safe storage a normal topic.

Prevention

• Store every firearm unloaded, locked and with ammunition stored separately
• Check that guns are unloaded each time you put them away
• Lock guns in vehicles in a secure container, out of sight
• Talk with teens about firearms, suicide and getting help when they or friends are struggling
• Keep the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number in your phone

Day to day

For gun-owning households, safe storage works best as a consistent habit rather than something done occasionally. Lock firearms immediately after use or cleaning, and make sure every adult in the household follows the same rules. Review storage whenever circumstances change, such as a new baby, a teenager in the home, a visiting relative or a household member going through a difficult period.

Talk with children about what to do if they find a gun: do not touch it, leave the area and tell an adult right away. Practice this regularly, but remember that it is a backup, not the main protection. For teens, open conversations about mental health and suicide, and knowing that they can always talk to you or call or text 988, are important parts of keeping them safe.

For specific groups

Teens

Teens may be more impulsive and more likely to experience emotional crises. They may also know where keys are kept. Store guns securely, watch for signs of depression or distress and consider temporary storage outside the home during difficult times.

Older adults with dementia

Dementia can affect judgment, memory and recognition of people, raising the risk of accidents or harm to others. Families should talk with the person and their doctor early about removing or securing firearms as the condition progresses.

Households experiencing domestic violence

A firearm in a home with domestic violence greatly increases the risk of death. If you are in danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can help with safety planning, and some states have laws that require firearms to be surrendered in these situations.

Questions to ask your doctor

• How can I make our home safer for my children with firearms present?
• What signs of depression or suicide risk should I watch for in my teen?
• Where can I find a free gun lock locally?
• What options are there for temporarily storing firearms outside the home?
• How should I talk to my child about what to do if they find a gun?
• Can you help us plan for firearm safety as my parent's dementia progresses?

More questions, answered

Is hiding a gun enough to keep it away from children?

No. Children often know where guns are hidden, even when parents believe otherwise. Hiding places are not a substitute for locks. Store guns unloaded and locked, with ammunition locked separately.

Does teaching my child about guns keep them safe?

Teaching is important but not enough on its own. Children are curious and may handle a gun even after being told not to. Locked storage is the most reliable protection, with education as an extra layer.

Why does storage matter for suicide prevention?

Suicidal crises can be brief, and firearms are far more likely to cause death than most other methods. Locking guns away or storing them outside the home during a crisis creates time and distance, giving the person a chance to get help.

How do I ask other parents about guns in their home?

Keep it simple and matter-of-fact, for example as part of a general safety question about pools or pets. You might say: "Is there a gun where my child will be playing, and how is it stored?" Most parents will understand.

Where can I get a free gun lock?

Many local police departments, sheriffs' offices and community safety programs give out free cable locks. Some health care providers and gun retailers also provide them. Ask locally to find out what is available.

Can I keep a gun for home protection and still store it safely?

Quick-access lockboxes and safes with keypads or biometric locks allow fast access for the authorized person while keeping children and others out. Talk with a firearms retailer or safety instructor about secure options that fit your needs.

Related topics

• The Evidence on Men and Mental Health, Without the Hype (Men's Health)
• Storing Medicines: What Published Guidance Supports (Medicines Safety)
• Teen Mental Health and 988: What Published Guidance Supports (Teen Health)
• Child Safety at Home: What Published Guidance Supports (Children's Health)

Where to go next

• The Safe Firearm Storage Checklist: What to Do and What to Skip
• What People Get Wrong About Safe Firearm Storage
• Safe Firearm Storage — the reference entry
• Injury Prevention: The Complete Guide
• Bike and Helmet Safety: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
• What the Guidance Really Says About Poisoning Prevention at Home

When to speak to a doctor

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and move firearms out of the home if you can. Call 911 for any gun injury or if someone is in immediate danger.

Where this comes from

• American Academy of Pediatrics — Safe Storage of Firearms
• CDC — Firearm Injury and Death Prevention
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Get Help

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.