Gun Safety
Seattle Children’s is committed to preventing firearm-related injuries and death among children and teens.
Ways Seattle Children’s Promotes Firearm Safety
- Increases access to and appropriate use of safe firearm storage devices.
- Raises awareness about the importance and effectiveness of safe firearm storage.
- Serves as a community resource in support of firearm tragedy prevention.
- Participates in and works to identify evidence-based interventions and firearm tragedy prevention strategies.
Read Seattle Children’s Safe Firearm Storage Program Summary for fiscal year 2023 (Oct. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023) to see our recent work. We are grateful to the community partners and Seattle Children’s team members and volunteers who have continued to make this work possible.
Free Firearm Storage Giveaway Events
We partner with organizations to offer safe firearm storage giveaway events in communities across the state of Washington. During events, attendees learn about the importance of gun storage and get a free lock box or trigger lock, with hands-on training on proper use. Supplies are limited.
- One free lock box or trigger lock per person (maximum two items per household).
- Recipient must be 18 or older and present to receive a free item. No ID required.
Come to a free firearm storage giveaway event
Please check back for events as they are added. Questions or suggestions for a future event location? Email us!
In partnership with Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle Children's Safe Firearm Storage Giveaway Events intervention was evaluated, and it was found that safe firearm storage practices improved among event participants. Read the full published article in Injury Prevention: Evaluation of a community-based safe firearm and ammunition storage intervention.
Learn more about hosting your own community safe firearm storage giveaway event.
Firearms Safety at Home
Practicing safe firearm storage is an important way to protect everyone in the home. Safe firearm storage also prevents theft of firearms. See what your options are and where to purchase safe storage devices.
Firearms safety checklist for home
- Store firearms unloaded.
- Store firearms locked up using a firearm safe, lock box, trigger or cable lock.
- Store and lock ammunition separately from firearms.
- Avoid locking devices that use keys if possible. If your locking device has a key, keep it with you or in a safe place that children and others cannot access.
- Remove firearms from your home if a family member is depressed, suicidal or is abusing drugs or alcohol. See the Washington Firearm Safe Storage Map to find local options for temporary, voluntary firearm storage.
Learn more about firearms in the home and see the complete safety checklist for home.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 24 and it is preventable. Suicide crises are often short-term but having access to firearms makes it easier to carry out the act because they are quick and deadly. The best way to protect your family from a firearm injury or death is to remove firearms from the home. If you choose to keep firearms in the home, you can help protect your family by locking up your firearms and ammunition. Learn more about the connecting between teens, depression and firearms and what you can do.
Learn about common suicide warning signs and what to do if a child or teen has thoughts about suicide.
Suicide prevention videos
- Ask the Question: Suicide Prevention (Video 1:01)
- Preventing Suicide: What Families Need to Know (4:50)
- Firearm Safety and Suicide Prevention (0:30)
In crisis?
If you, your child, family or friend needs help right away, call or text 988. Chat is another option. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources. The Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States.
Hotlines for Youth provides other options for immediate help for children and teens.
Safe Firearm Storage Information for Healthcare Professionals
Safe firearm storage counseling in healthcare settings
Patient-provider counseling on safe firearm storage during clinic visits is an important strategy to potentially reduce firearm-related injuries among children and teens. See Tips for Provider Messaging on Safe Firearm Storage for guidance on how to have conversations about safe firearm storage with parents/guardians.
Trainings
- Seattle Children’s can train and support healthcare organizations to implement safe firearm storage counseling, along with provision of safe firearm storage devices for pediatric settings in Washington state through June 2025. Learn more.
- Washington Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics – Role of the Physician in Firearm Injury Prevention (webinar)
- Zero Suicide – Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (free, self-paced online training)
- Safer Homes Coalition - All Patients Safe Training (online)
- Firearm Safety Among Children and Teens (FACTS) – Counseling, safe storage, epidemiology (videos)
Host Your Own Community Safe Firearm Storage Giveaway Event or Education Program
Firearm tragedy prevention is important everywhere – not only in Washington state. If your organization is interested in learning more about the work Seattle Children's is doing around firearm tragedy prevention to help inform work in the communities you serve, please email us.
Our Community Safe Firearm Storage Program Event Planning Toolkit (PDF) provides a step-by-step guide for hosting a community event focused on safe firearm storage education, awareness, and giveaways. Email us to get a copy.
Now through June 2025, organizations that serve children and youth in Washington state can connect with us for support of a train-the-trainers program and safe firearm storage event sponsorship or co-host opportunities. Learn more.
Learn more about our community safe firearm storage giveaway events and watch footage from an event: Protect Our Kids From Firearm Tragedies: Safe Firearm Storage Giveaway Program (3:21)
More Firearm Safety Information
Safe Firearm Storage Reduces the Risk of Firearm Injuries and Saves Lives
Safe firearm storage means keeping a firearm unloaded and secured using a lock box, safe or other locked storage space designed to prevent access and use from someone other than the intended owner. It is an important way to protect children from firearm suicide and unintentional shootings.
