In Washington State, three in every four firearm deaths are suicides. Access to firearms triples the risk of suicide. Empathetic conversation about firearm safety and mental health is associated with more people using safe gun storage, reducing the risk of preventable injury and death.
Three critical interventions are available to support an individual in crisis:
Washington State’s Safe Storage law provides an effective way to keep you and your family safe by providing resources for temporary firearm storage options outside the home. Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program (FIPRP) has created Washington State’s Safe Storage Map to help individuals in crisis to identify local options for temporary, voluntary firearm storage.
Learn more about Washington State’s Three Interventions >>
Safe Storage of your firearms to a place outside your household can reduce the availability and immediate access to lethal means for people in crisis. It will help prevent suicide or self-harm, is voluntary and allows you to retrieve the gun when the crisis has passed.
By being proactive about firearm safety and access, you can protect yourself and loved ones from firearm injury or suicide.
Many retailers consider offering storage on a case-by-case basis; please reach out to them to discuss whether they can accommodate your request. Do not carry firearms into a police station without calling in advance. Lock firearms in a case or leave them locked in your truck or car while making arrangements with law enforcement. Some locations have pick-up services; you may ask about that when you call.
If you are interested in creating your own voluntary firearm safe storage map, visit our Voluntary Out-of-Home Firearm Storage toolkit.
Learn more about Washington State’s Three Interventions >>
Visit our Digital Resource Center to learn more about critical Firearm Interventions and Safe Storage — plus, more injury and violence prevention topics year-round!
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