Safe Firearm Storage

When firearms are in a home, how they’re stored matters more than almost anything else. Locked and unloaded storage helps prevent accidental shootings by children, suicide, theft and misuse. Most accidental shootings involving children happen with guns that weren’t locked up. This page covers practical safety, not whether to own a firearm.

• Gun Owners
• Parents & Families
• Everyone

Core storage rules

• Store firearms unloaded and locked. Use a gun safe, a lockbox, or a lock that prevents firing (a cable lock or trigger lock), so that no one without authorization can fire it.
• Store ammunition separately, locked up in a different place from the firearm.
• Keep keys and combinations secure. Don’t leave keys where children can find them, or use a combination that kids can guess (birthdays, addresses). Don’t share codes with anyone who shouldn’t have access.
• Hiding isn’t storing. Children find guns on closets shelves, under beds and in drawers, even when parents think they don’t know. Curiosity doesn’t go away because you told them not to touch.
• Use quality products. Cheap locks and thin boxes can be defeated. Look for safes and locks with good reviews and, where relevant, certification, and check the product for the size and type of your firearm.
• Take the lock seriously. A trigger lock or cable lock should be a way to prevent firing, not an excuse to leave a loaded gun out. Don’t rely on a lock alone with a loaded firearm.
• Mount and secure safes to the floor or wall so they can’t be carried away.
• Consider quick-access safes if you keep a firearm for home defense. These use a keypad, fingerprint, RFID or key, and let you reach the firearm quickly while keeping it from children. Practice opening it in the dark.

Why it matters

• Children and teens: kids as young as 3 can pull a trigger. Many children who find a gun handle it and fire it. Safe storage greatly lowers the risk.
• Suicide: firearms are the most lethal method of suicide, and a large share of firearm deaths are suicides. A suicidal crisis can be short, so putting time and distance between the person and the gun, with locked storage or keeping it out of the home temporarily, saves lives. See the section on crisis below.
• Theft: firearms stolen from homes and vehicles often end up in crimes. Locking them up protects the community.
• Visitors: teens, cleaners, repair workers and guests can find unsecured guns.

Talking about guns

• Ask about firearms in homes where your children go to play, sleep over or are babysat, as you would ask about pets, allergies or a pool. Ask if they’re stored locked and unloaded. Many parents find it easier to say, “We ask every family.”
• Talk with your children early and often. Teach “Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell a grown-up.” Don’t treat a firearm as a toy, and don’t depend on this alone, since curiosity wins.
• Teach teens about the lethal danger, impulse control and what to do if a friend talks about hurting themselves. See Childproofing.
• Tell visitors and caregivers that firearms are locked up, and that no one should touch them.

Handling and training

• Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. Keep the muzzle in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot and know your target and what is beyond it.
• Take a certified firearm safety course, and keep training current. Local ranges and groups offer them.
• Unload and check the chamber and magazine each time you handle it, and when you put it away, even if you think it’s empty.
• Clean firearms in a well-ventilated area, since solvents and lead dust at ranges are hazardous. Wash hands after handling ammunition and cleaning. See Lead.
• Protect your hearing and eyes when shooting. See Protecting Your Hearing at Home.

In vehicles and when traveling

• Don’t leave firearms in an unattended vehicle, where they’re a common target for theft. If you must, lock them in a secured container that is out of sight and fixed to the vehicle.
• Transport firearms unloaded in a locked case, with ammunition separate, unless local law says otherwise.
• Check local laws when traveling. Rules on carrying, transport and storage vary widely by place, and on airlines, boats and public buildings.

Giving or disposing of firearms

• Follow the law when selling, lending or giving away a firearm. Many places require background checks or a licensed dealer.
• Safe storage for the dead or the unwanted: if you inherit or no longer want a firearm, contact local law enforcement or a licensed dealer to ask about lawful transfer or disposal.
• If someone in the household may be at risk to themselves or others, ask a licensed dealer, a trusted friend or relative, or local law enforcement about temporary off-site storage. Some places have laws that allow courts to remove firearms from people in crisis.

If someone is in crisis

• If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, U.S.) or call 911 for immediate danger. Talk openly and take it seriously. See Post-Incident Stress.
• Remove or lock up firearms and medications. Secure storage buys time, which can save a life. See Medicine Storage & Disposal.
• For domestic violence or threats, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) or local police. Laws may restrict firearms for people who are subject to some protective orders.

Laws vary

• Safe storage and child access prevention laws differ by state and locality. Some require locked storage in certain situations, and some impose penalties if a child gets access. Check your current state and local law, and consult a lawyer if unsure.
• Free gun locks are offered through programs such as Project ChildSafe in many places. Ask your local law enforcement agency or a firearm retailer.
• Insurance, rental and housing rules may add requirements.

Safe storage checklist

• All firearms are unloaded and locked in a safe, lockbox or with a cable or trigger lock
• Ammunition is locked up separately
• Keys and combinations are protected and not guessable by children
• Firearms aren’t left in unattended vehicles; transport is unloaded and locked
• I ask about gun storage where my children visit, and I talk with my children and teens
• I know the 988 crisis line and how to arrange temporary off-site storage

Last updated: October 5, 2026