Answers to Your Questions

Cable locks are often included with the purchase of firearms, but many secure storage options can be purchased from gun shops, sporting goods stores, or online retailers. Reach out to your local police department or department of public health for additional secure storage options, or check at your local library.

Biometric safes can offer quick access, but other types — including those with mechanical locks or electronic keypads — can be just as secure and just as quick to unlock if you need access in seconds. Find the best secure storage that works for your needs and that you’ll use consistently, but remember: Never sacrifice security for speed.

It’s definitely important to talk to kids about gun safety and the dangers of firearms. But while talking to children about guns is a good precaution, it’s not a guarantee of safety. Keep in mind that one study¹ found that young children who go through a week-long gun safety training are just as likely as children with no training to approach or play with a handgun when they find one.

Remember too that kids may face peer pressure or other influences that lead them to do things they otherwise wouldn’t do.

Let’s face it. All kids make mistakes and bad decisions sometimes. It’s part of growing up. Securing your firearm helps to prevent an impulsive action from becoming a fatal one.

¹Marjorie S. Hardy, “Teaching Firearm Safety to Children: Failure of a Program,” Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 23, no. 2 (2002): 71–76.

You may think your kids don’t know where your gun is located, but in fact, it’s likely that they do. One study showed that 41 percent of adolescents in gun-owning households report having “easy access” to the guns in their home¹.

“Hiding” a gun in a closet or high shelf isn’t a secure way to store a firearm. And unintentional shootings and thefts are possible if children or other unauthorized persons find an unsecured firearm. Taking the step to secure your gun can go a long way to keep everyone in your home, vehicle, and community safer — and could even save a life.

¹Joseph A. Simonetti et al., “Psychiatric Comorbidity, Suicidality, and In-Home Firearm Access Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Adolescents,” JAMA Psychiatry 72, no. 2 (2015): 152–59.

In many states, it’s illegal to drive with a firearm that isn’t secured in a locked container, and if you’re ever pulled over by police or in an accident, having your gun secured will likely help to de-escalate the situation.

It only takes a few seconds for someone to break into a vehicle and steal a firearm, and many stolen guns end up at crime scenes. In fact, guns are stolen from vehicles every nine minutes in the U.S. Additionally, if a passenger, such as a child, discovers your firearm, they may be tempted to handle it and seriously injure or kill themselves or others. Taking the time to secure a gun can go a long way and could even save a life.

Train SMART is a new gun safety training program created by veterans who bring the military’s proven principles of firearms training, safety, and responsibility to the civilian market. The training courses are designed to give current and prospective gun owners everything they need to know to protect their loved ones, hunt, and shoot recreationally as responsibly as possible.

It can feel awkward or uncomfortable to start these conversations, but approach it in a calm and non-judgemental way. Remember, you’re not questioning why they choose to have a gun — you’re just making sure it’s stored securely. If it feels too awkward to have a conversation in person, try asking the question over text. For other ideas, take a look at these tips for asking about gun storage.

It is important to first ask your kids what they know about guns and to ensure your message is age-appropriate. Our kids know more than we’d expect. Approach the discussion as a conversation and not a lecture. Emphasize that they should always assume a gun is loaded and notify an adult whenever they see a gun. Take a look at talking to your kids about guns.

Several states have passed laws requiring some form of secure gun storage, such as child access prevention laws. You can learn more here about the laws and/or requirements in your state.

Remember, even if your state doesn’t have a secure storage law in place, securely storing your gun in your home and/or in your vehicle can prevent death, serious injury, and other life-changing consequences.

Be SMART is a framework that everyone — gun owners and non gun owners alike — can follow to prevent gun violence. Parents, caretakers, community members, and professionals can learn these simple steps to keep kids and communities safe:

Secure all firearms (in homes and in vehicles)
Model responsible behavior around firearms
Ask about the presence of unsecured firearms in other homes
Recognize the role of firearms in suicide
Tell others to Be S-M-A-R-T

SMART Week is a campaign that the Be SMART program marks every year during the last full week of August. As young people head back to school, SMART Week reminds us that adults have homework, too. The assignment? To spread the word about secure gun storage and how to Be SMART.

Learn more about SMART Week.

Visit our resources page to see all available handouts and materials you can share in your community. All printable materials are designed to be printed on size 8.5” x 11” paper.

When you partner with Be SMART, you become a trusted ambassador of our message. You know your community best, and we’re here to support you in reaching people about the importance of secure gun storage in whatever ways best fit your setting(s).

Official Be SMART partners receive licensing to co-brand and distribute materials; messaging guidance on preventing child gun deaths and promoting safety in your community; no-cost- access to preview a gun safety training program; and more.

Learn more about partnering with Be SMART.

The national Be SMART campaign depends on parents, caretakers, and community leaders like you to share the message that secure gun storage helps to protect children and teens from unnecessary tragedy.

Learn more about how you can join a network of thousands of volunteers advocating for secure gun storage in their communities.