Gun Storage Stories
Adam F.
Mill Valley, CA
"When we check in with our friends and loved ones, we should ask them if they have a gun, and if they do, is it safely stored? We can normalize the idea that gun safety is important and it’s okay to talk about."
Charles T.
San Diego, CA
"A few years ago, a Veteran friend of mine took his own life with a gun. It caused me to take a step back and think about how that could have happened. To this day, I still think about what didn’t take place that could have prevented this tragedy."
Chris J.
Las Vegas, NV
"With firearms, a lot of it came down to my experience in the military. The first thing we ever discussed in firearms training is safety, safety, safety. Because the most important thing is protecting who’s inside your home."
Cliff B.
Manassas, VA
"When you’re in that state, while you’re trying to find your ammo and unlock the gun, you can get that moment of clarity and say, 'I need to pick up the phone and call somebody and ask for help.' That’s the important part."
Clint M.
Gardnerville, NV
"Today, I still have several firearms in a safe in the tack room outside. My biggest thing is accessibility. We keep them locked up. Joanie would take the keys away if she saw me spiraling."
Denise M.
Valencia, PA
"The gun was secured with a gun lock, but unfortunately the ammunition was stored with it. We are creatures of habit. She knew just where to look for the keys and to find the gun."
Donna Marie D.
Lake Oswego, OR
"But the real important part is that if I had gotten the handguns, I would have died that night. I still have access to firearms. I love shooting. But my guns are stored in a gun safe, unloaded with a cable lock."
Erin D.
Pasadena, CA
"If they did talk about it more, then these deaths – including my dad’s -- could be prevented. We can secure guns in the home so that in a moment of frustration or despair someone in the household can't easily get their hands on a loaded gun -- just creating that lack of access in the immediacy of the moment can help someone, perhaps, calm down or seek help out in some other way."
Fenway J.
Fenton, MI
"Suicide isn't talked about until after the fact. I think that that's one of the reasons why there are so many; people feel like they're alone. They feel like they can't talk about it. We need to reduce is the stigma around suicide and reduce the ways that people have access to lethal means to be able to take their own life."
Jahara and Lara M.
"We are Jahara and Lara; an active-duty military family. We ensure our firearms are always stored securely in a locked safe that is only accessible to us."
Khary P.
Milwaukee, WI
"All of this pain could have been avoided if my mom didn't have easy access to a gun. The statistics will tell you that you're more likely to use that gun on yourself or on someone you love than on an assailant. My mom is proof of that."
Kyleanne H.
Bend, OR
"And that’s the importance of safe storage for me. It seems to be working. I still have guns. I really like hunting. Guns are still a thing that I enjoy. But, the important thing is, I know they are stored safely to keep me safe."
Mark H.
New York, NY
"I actually had an incident where somebody was trying to kick down my front door. People have asked me how much longer did it take to get that gun because I had it locked away. And I said realistically, an extra two seconds."
Michael
California
"As a young lawyer, I prosecuted some misdemeanors involving illegal gun use... The criminologist that I worked with as a prosecutor explained to me that the overwhelming majority of gun accidents involve a loaded gun left unsecured in the home. This really stuck with me."
Reba R.P.
St. Louis, MO
"I still keep a .380 pistol—but it has a gun lock and is inside a safe. I keep it locked away not just for my grandson Jackson, but for myself, too. Because you’ve got to protect not just from what’s outside, but from what’s inside, too."
Sean S.
Pembroke Pines, FL
"When I got home, I was looking for my video games to play. I knew where they were hidden since I was such a curious little kid. I found my dad’s gun."
Shavon “Shay” D.
Oceanside, CA
"I used to keep a gun in the nightstand. It wasn't until getting married and having children that I realized we definitely needed a safe."
Tom C.
Fort Worth, TX
"I'm still a big gun advocate. I love my weapons. But I can love them safer than what I was doing before. It doesn't take away from who I am. It doesn’t take away from my elite training with special forces groups, my manhood. But now, I'm safe for my family."