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NSSF’s Gun Storage Check Week® runs throughout this week, June 1-7, delivering a simple and potentially lifesaving message: “Check on your firearm storage practices and, if necessary, make improvements to prevent unwanted access.” The national campaign’s slogan is “Make Sure It’s Secure™️.”
More than 1,300 companies and organizations have already signed on to promote “Make Sure It’s Secure.” Now that the campaign is underway, we hope more companies will add their voice to it.
Some great examples of industry support for Gun Storage Check Week are a blog post from Tim Schmidt, Chairman and Co-founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, along with a USCCA Instagram takeover day, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s podcast with NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi, a new video from Kristy Titus on storing firearms safely in vehicles, firearm retailers featuring sales of gun safes, law enforcement departments promoting their Project ChildSafe® safety materials during the week and companies large and small promoting “Make Sure It’s Secure” on their social media platforms.
There’s plenty of time to use the promotional toolkit at GunStorageCheck.org to be a part of Gun Storage Check Week. We also remind our community to consider going a step further and to check in with someone you’re concerned about because their access to a firearm can be a risk until they’re doing better.
Gun Storage Check was inspired by conversations at roundtables organized by the Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Suicide Prevention and NSSF, where industry representatives explored strategies to encourage more diligent firearm storage practices. The goal is to prevent not only suicide—a vexing problem among veterans and active service members—but accidents and thefts involving firearms.
Such tragedies weigh heavy on families and communities. We don’t need to preach about the obvious—that a properly stored firearm can save a life. Interrupting access by a child or a person with suicidal thoughts can prevent heartrending loss and lifelong struggles.
The appeal of Gun Storage Check Week as a national awareness campaign was on display at the recent NSSF Marketing & Leadership Summit. Presenters, including industry leaders, a brand strategist, the VA’s head of suicide prevention, firearm retailers and an emergency department doctor, all pointed to the potential of Gun Storage Check Week to bring added attention to responsible gun storage practices.
Gun Storage Check Week also helps reach millions of first-time gun owners with safety reminders and educational videos like Firearms 101 at GunStorageCheck.org.
Lock Hangtags and Information Cards
The Marketing & Leadership Summit dedicated an entire afternoon to “marketing’s biggest challenge—delivering suicide prevention messaging,” at which NSSF announced two new resources for firearm manufacturers.
NSSF will place a hangtag on its Project ChildSafe cable locks showing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number—the resource to use if you or someone you know is struggling. NSSF invites manufacturers to add the tag or label to whatever locking device they distribute. Safe and lockbox manufacturers may wish to use the label as well. Also announced was a “Have a Brave Conversation” suicide prevention card to be included in the box with new firearms. Both the hangtag and card have a QR code that leads to more detailed resources.
The intention of Gun Storage Check Week is not to displace NSSF safety programs like Project ChildSafe, Have a Brave Conversation or Don’t Lie for the Other Guy, but to use a simple ask to punch through the cacophony of messaging surrounding us—"Check your storage!” We’re confident that when reminded, a person will know that hiding a gun—whether on top of a refrigerator, under a sofa cushion or in a vehicle glove compartment—is not the way to prevent access by a child or someone dealing with mental health challenges or in despair due to life struggles. Storage devices for homes and vehicles are available, including lock boxes for gun owners who value readiness.
Reminders can replace bad habits with good ones. Last year, a commuter let NSSF know that he saw a Gun Storage Check Week interstate billboard citing “Make Sure It’s Secure” and realized his home storage wasn’t up to snuff. He made improvements, to the benefit of his family.
In addition to accessing the campaign’s promotional toolkit or reviewing safety information, visitors to GunStorageCheck.org can enter to win free firearm safety equipment and gain extra entries by watching a gun safety or suicide prevention video. We thank our product sponsors for June—Regal Products, VaultPro and ShotLock.
Gun Storage Check Week, June 1-7, is part of National Safety Month and will repeat September 1-7 as part of National Suicide Prevention Month.
Help NSSF maintain the firearm industry’s leadership role in promoting gun safety across America by participating in Gun Storage Check Week.
— Bill Brassard, Senior Director, Communications, NSSF
