DOJ guidance: firearms should be stored so they are inaccessible to children and other at-risk or prohibited people. It recommends layered safeguards and keeping storage keys or combinations separate and out of children’s reach.
A layered household plan
- Lock the firearm storage. A closet, drawer or hiding place without an effective lock is not secure storage.
- Control credentials. Keep keys, combinations and recovery methods inaccessible to children and anyone else who should not have access. Avoid leaving a backup key beside the container.
- Address ammunition. Follow applicable law and authoritative guidance; DOJ and ATF materials advise locked ammunition storage separate from firearms.
- Add compatible device-level safeguards. DOJ notes that no single lock fits every firearm. Confirm compatibility with the firearm manufacturer.
- Teach a simple response. Children should not touch or play with a firearm and should tell an adult if they find one. Education supplements locked storage.
- Check other homes. Ask about secure storage where children visit, including relatives, friends and neighbors.
Test the routine, not the child
Review whether the container is actually locked after each use, whether codes have been observed or shared, and whether keys remain controlled. Reassess when children grow, visitors change, someone is in crisis, or the storage location becomes predictable.
Emergency and legal context
Storage and access laws differ by jurisdiction and circumstance. This guide is general educational information. Check current federal, state and local requirements. If there is an immediate risk of harm, contact emergency services or an appropriate crisis resource in your area.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice — Safe Storage of FirearmsChild access, layered safeguards, key/combination control and separate ammunition guidance.
- ATF — Firearms Handling and StorageLocked storage, child-safety devices, separate ammunition and legal awareness.