These resources were created in partnership with:
The goal of this page is to prepare Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs), including firearm retailers and range owners, and law enforcement agencies to provide voluntary, temporary firearm storage outside of the home. This resource includes three fact sheets addressing firearm suicide prevention, liability, and key contacts and resources for FFLs.
While out-of-home firearm storage is especially critical during times of crisis (e.g., mental health crises or major life stressors such as job loss or divorce), it may also be used in other situations, such as reducing access for a minor in the home, hosting guests, or traveling away from home.
Explore the Fact Sheets
Each topic below includes a brief overview followed by a downloadable fact sheet. Select a topic to expand and view or download the full document.
Out-of-Home Storage & Suicide
This fact sheet provides information about suicide and firearm suicide in Washington State and the United States, emphasizing the importance of reducing access to lethal means during times of crisis. It includes the LEARN framework developed by
Forefront Suicide Prevention, which can assist FFL employees in recognizing when a customer may be in crisis.
Liability
This fact sheet outlines best practices for training, communication, and planning to support FFLs in developing internal policies and standardized procedures for voluntary, temporary firearm storage. It also includes key Washington State policies related to firearm transfers.
The Southeastern Wisconsin Veteran Suicide Prevention Task Force created a template storage agreement that may help reduce liability by clearly outlining responsibilities for both the firearm owner and the storage site.
Contacts, Training, and Resources
This fact sheet is designed to be posted within an FFL as a reference for employees. It includes emergency and non-emergency contact numbers, the suicide and crisis line, Washington Poison Control, and links to printable materials from Safer Homes, Suicide Aware and the
National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Additional resources:
- Colorado Firearm Safety Coalition resources for firearm instructors and firearm retailers/range owners
- University of Colorado Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative voluntary out-of-home firearm storage toolkit
This series of fact sheets was compiled from materials created by:
- The Means Matter Campaign (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
- Safer Homes, Suicide Aware
- Each Mind Matters
- National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)
- The New Hampshire Firearm Safety Coalition
- Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC)
Full references:
- Means Matter. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/means-matter/
- Anglemyer A, Horvath T, Rutherford G. The accessibility of firearms and risk for suicide and homicide victimization among household members: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160(2):101-110. doi:10.7326/M13-1301
- Miller M, Wertz J, Swanson SA, Simonetti JA, Zhang Y, Azrael DR. Firearm Storage and Firearm Suicide. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(7):e2519266. Published 2025 Jul 1. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.19266
- Owens D, Horrocks J, House A. Fatal and non-fatal repetition of self-harm. Systematic review. Br J Psychiatry. 2002;181:193-199. doi:10.1192/bjp.181.3.193
- Firearms Industry Suicide Prevention Best Practices. Published online April 20, 2023. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://saferhomescoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Safer-Homes-FFL-Best-Practices-and-SOPs-updated-4.20.23.pdf
- Kim R, Wagner ED, Nestadt PS, Somayaji N, Horwitz J, Crifasi CK. Gun Violence in the United States 2023: Examining the Gun Suicide Epidemic. Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions; Johns Hopkins Center for Suicide Prevention; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; 2025.
- Simon OR, Swann AC, Powell KE, Potter LB, Kresnow MJ, O’Carroll PW. Characteristics of impulsive suicide attempts and attempters. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2001;32(1 Suppl):49-59. doi:10.1521/suli.32.1.5.49.24212
- Firearm Fatality and Suicide Prevention A Public Health Approach. Published online February 2019. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/8390/346-087-SuicideFirearmPrevention.pdf
- O’Rourke MC, Jamil RT, Siddiqui W. Washington State Suicide Prevention and Awareness. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed November 12, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564401/
- Washingtonians Talk About Preventing Suicide. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://intheforefront.org/everyday-washingtonians/
- Tip Sheet for Firearm Retailers. Published online August 9, 2011. https://www.naminh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Tipsfordealers_0.pdf
- Firearm Sales or Transfers—Background Checks—Requirements—Exceptions. Vol RCW 9.41.113.; 2014. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.113
- When Someone is in Crisis. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://intheforefront.org/in-crisis/how-to-help-someone-else/
- Notice to FFLs. Published online June 21, 2019. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://waspc.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/6-21-19%20Notice%20to%20FFLs%20WA.pdf