Firearm Safety

Injuries and deaths caused by firearms are a public health issue.  Each year, over 40,000 Americans die by suicide, homicide, or accidents with firearms. 

In 2020, firearm-related injuries were among the 5 leading causes of death for people ages 1-44 in the United States.

Benton-Franklin Health District is addressing this problem by raising public awareness of firearm safety practices and identifying gaps in our knowledge about the problem and ways to prevent it. Addressing these gaps is an important step toward keeping individuals, families, schools, and communities safe from firearm violence and its consequences.

What you can do to prevent gun violence:

• Safely store your firearms

  Find out which gun storage device is right for you. Firearm locking and storage devices can be purchased wherever guns or firearm accessories are sold including gun stores, sporting good stores, firing ranges, and locksmiths. Many discount stores also carry safe storage devices. All gun safes and lock boxes are tax exempt in the state of Washington per RCW 82.08.832

• Talk to family and friends about safe storage

  Asking if guns are safety stored may save lives

• Know the warning signs of suicide

Unlocked firearms are a risk to people struggling with suicidal thoughts.  Learn more about resources and next steps for suicide prevention
Out-of-home firearm storage can be especially helpful to people in crisis. The businesses and law enforcement agencies listed on this map are willing to consider requests for temporary, voluntary firearm storage.

Click here to access the FREE Washington Firearm Safe Storage Map