Gun Shops or Law Enforcement

A VOLUNTARY SERVICE FOR ANYONE WANTING TO KEEP THEIR FIREARMS AND LOVED ONES SAFE

WHAT WORKS BEST TO FIT YOUR NEEDS?

A GUN SHOP OR LAW ENFORCEMENT

STORAGE OPTION COMPARISON

Safe Temporary Storage (STFS) is offered through both participating gun shops and law enforcement agencies. Each option has unique strengths, and the best choice depends on your situation and comfort level.

All SAFE TEMPORARY FIREARM Partners will:

• Provide a contract outlining the process and length of time requested for the weapons to be held

• Owners of the firearms will be asked to provide a secondary contact person

  • If the firearm owner cannot be reached, the gun shop or law enforcement can attempt to locate the owner through their back-up contact.

GUN SHOPS

Each gun shop determines how offering Safe Temporary Firearm Storage will work for them, but in general they will either offer STFS through locker rentals or storage in a secure, monitored area only accessible by authorized personnel.

• Option 1: Secure Locker Rentals

  • If someone needs safe, temporary storage for their firearms and struggling with financial hardship, some locations may have a sliding scale or other options. Call ahead and speak with the location to find out more.
  • Firearm owners typically bring their own lock, though many shops also have locks available for purchase.

• Option 2: A Long-Term Hold through offering an inspection of the weapons

  • The gun shop will follow the process of documentation and record keeping of the firearm's serial number for storage when accepting firearms similar to servicing or cleaning a customer's firearms
  • The gun shop may offer additional options, such as cleaning or a repair that the gun owner may opt for or decline.

Strengths: Convenient locations, flexible hours, and a familiar setting for firearm owners. Some shops may also offer extra services like cleaning or inspecting while your firearm is stored.

Considerations: Each shop sets its own policies and fees, so availability and storage methods may vary.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Each Law Enforcement department determines how offering Safe Temporary Firearm Storage will work for them, but in general you can expect most participating law enforcement agencies to offer Safe Temporary Firearm Storage for their community as a resource.

• FREE

  • Firearm owners do not need to provide locks or pay fees.

• Weapons are held in highly secured areas within a dedicated gun safe for only STFS use.

• Law enforcement typically inventory the firearms.

• Some departments require a brief mental health screening before release of the weapons back to the owner, but not all. Call ahead and inquire about their process of releasing the firearms.

Strengths: High-security storage with strong safeguards and clear accountability. A trusted option if safety concerns are urgent or involve a crisis.

Considerations: Storage may be more formal, with specific procedures and limited availability depending on the department.

Important Note

If the owner does not return at the end of the agreed holding period, fails to contact the STFS partner holding the firearm, and the identified secondary contact fails to respond or aid in the retrieval of the weapons, the owner may forfeit the ownership of their weapons.