By Dr. Claire Houtsma and Dr. Gala True
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC), School of Medicine, Section of Community and Population Medicine
Consider the following real-life scenario…
Jay is an Army Veteran living with posttraumatic stress disorder and depression related to his military service. He lives on a farm with his wife and two children and enjoys hunting, sports shooting and time at his local gun range. Jay’s wife becomes concerned as she spots signs of a suicide crisis, including his increased alcohol use, reckless driving and comments about how she and the kids would be “better off” without him. Given her growing worries and Jay’s easy access to firearms, she asks if he’d be okay with voluntarily getting their firearms out of the house until he can get help. She heard about a local firearm retailer willing to store guns for just this reason. She asks Jay if they can visit the store to see if it’s an option for them and he agrees.
At the gun shop, Philip, the owner, explains how the program works. He tells Jay and his wife that he will store all the family’s firearms for free until Jay is ready to get them back. Jay is reluctant; he’s worried about the red tape and the possibility he may not pass the federal background check to get his firearms back when he’s ready. Philip explains there are some other options. For example, in the state where they live, Jay could give the firearms to a friend or family member to hold onto for him. After talking for a while, Jay begins to trust Philip and decides to store the firearms with him. Jay and his wife come back the next day with the family firearms and leave knowing they will be well taken care of by Philip, while Jay seeks the mental health support he needs.
The reality
Did you know that more than half of all suicide deaths in the United States involve a firearm? This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a call to action for us to do better in safeguarding our loved ones. Firearms are the most lethal method of suicide, with a fatality rate of about 85 percent. This is largely due to the immediate and irreversible nature of firearms, making them especially dangerous during moments of crisis.
Small Steps
The good news is there are many options that can decrease risk of firearm suicide, while respecting firearm owners’ rights, agency and preferences.
Storage Locations
There are a number of firearm storage locations you can explore. These options exist along a spectrum, from most time and distance required to access, to least time and distance. You should determine which location makes sense for you and your situation.
- Out-of-Home – this storage option, in most situations, provides the greatest amount of space between oneself and a firearm, which can decrease suicide risk dramatically. There are a number of ways to achieve out-of-home storage, and it is important to check state and local laws to ensure which options are allowable in your area. A notable resource available in some states is The Armory Project (TAP), a program that partners with firearm retailers to provide temporary and voluntary out-of-home firearm storage to those in need. In fact, the opening story comes from a TAP user, highlighting that this strategy can often be the difference between life and death.
- Inside a locked container – this storage option involves placing a firearm inside a gun safe, lockbox or other locked object, which prevents immediate access.
- In a secure area – this storage option involves moving the firearm to an area that may be off limits or out of reach of the person at risk for suicide. This provides a little time and distance, but may not be enough to deter someone from accessing the firearm.
Additional Strategies
As can be seen in the below figure from the Minutes Matter guide, there are a number of strategies that can be combined with the above locations to increase time and distance, and enhance suicide prevention. It is important to think about what is best for your home, your family and your unique situation to decide what may work best for you. If you choose to involve others in your safety plan, ensure that you are following all applicable laws if you provide others with access to your firearms.
Take Aways
Secure firearm storage is a simple yet powerful way to reduce the risk of firearm suicide. Programs like Project ChildSafe®️, The Armory Project and the NSSF®️ Gun Storage Check Week®️, as well as tools like the “Minutes Matter” guide, provide essential resources and information to help make our homes safer. By adopting secure storage practices, even before suicide risk emerges within our households, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones, giving them the time they need to find help and hope.
