Safe Storage
SECURE GUN STORAGE MAKES A DIFFERENCE
In the U.S., 6.7 million children live in a home with an unsecured, loaded gun.
Also, in the U.S., and Missouri and Kansas, firearms are the #1 cause of death of children.
An unlocked gun is an accident or tragedy waiting to happen.
Secure gun storage, with a cable gun lock like GGS provides free through its Lock It for Love program, or a lock box, gun safe or other secure storage can:
Reduce accidental shootings by 34%.*
A child as young as 3 can pull a trigger.*
Reduce gun suicides (which are fatal in 90% of attempts) by delaying access to the firearm.
The risk of death by suicide increases 300% when there is access to a gun in the home.
In the U.S., gun ownership is a right many choose to exercise. With that right comes the responsibility to keep loved ones safe from the potential danger of a gun.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Make sure guns in your car, home, or those your family members visit, are not loaded and are securely stored.
Accidental shootings go down 34% when guns in the home are securely stored (such as with a lock or safe).
Store firearms with a cable gun lock or safe. (See storage options on the other side.)
Ask adults in homes where your children visit if there are guns on the premises and if the firearms are securely stored (not just “hidden”).
When there is a gun in the home, 53% of children know where the gun is stored; only 11% of parents believe the child knows.*
Offer your home for children or family gatherings where you can ensure all are safe from firearm harm.
SECURE GUN STORAGE OPTIONS
Cable Gun Lock – $0 – $20
Grandparents for Gun Safety, through its Lock It For Love program, provides free cable gun locks anytime through partners such as Swope Health and Troost 39 Thrift Store and community resources fairs and back-to-school events. Scan the QR code to watch a video on how to use a cable lock.
Lock Box – ~$25 – $100
A lockbox can be opened with a key and lock or, like the GGS sample, biometric which, once a fingerprint has been programmed in, provides a secure but quick way to access a firearm (with just the fingerprint). A lockbox can also be portable.
Gun Safe ~ $100 – $500
For larger or multiple firearms, a gun safe, or even devices that can secure a whole room, may be the best option.
While more expensive, the options can provide quick access as well as the out-of-sight-of-children benefit of a lockbox, safe or whole room security.
Firearm Hold Agreements
In 2026, to support gun owners suffering from mental health disorders, such as veterans with PTSD, in 2026, the Kansas Legislature passed “firearm hold agreements.” These allowed federal firearms licensed dealers to securely store and return firearms to owners, while shielding the dealers from civil liability when a gun is returned.
Free Gun Lock with New Firearm Purchase
In the U.S., federal law requires licensed gun dealers to provide a free safe storage device, usually a cable lock, with a new firearm purchase.
*See grandparentsforgunsafety.org/