Our communities are full of protectors- family, friends, and neighbors who look out for one another and offer a helping hand when they see someone in need. These small actions have a huge impact. Asking someone how they’re doing or lending a listening ear can make all the difference in someone’s day. We are the connectors and the trusted messengers, having conversations and sharing information on a daily basis that impact our community. It makes sense then that research shows we are more likely to seek out resources and follow recommendations that were shared by a friend.
That knowledge is at the heart of We Are The Ones Who Partner to Protect. We all care about the safety of our friends and family and often find ourselves having those important conversations. If we notice that someone isn’t acting like themselves or seems to be going through a challenging time, we can help keep them safe. Time and space are the best ways we can protect ourselves and others in those moments of crisis where our brains are too overloaded to recognize all the options we have. We are the ones who we can spread this awareness, who share how we can take proper care of our own firearms, and who encourage our loved ones to create that time and space between someone experiencing extreme stress and a lethal tool that can save a life.
We’re calling on the protectors to look out for one another. Will you Partner to Protect?
Resources:
There are many resources available to help start conversations about safety, learn about the many options of temporary storage, and how to support someone who may be struggling.
Have a Brave Conversation is in partnership with The Firearm Industry Trade Association, access suicide prevention toolkits and secure firearm storage resources for the firearm-owning community.
Pause to Protect is a community empowering firearm businesses and owners to take easy steps to help prevent accidents, theft, and suicide through an online hub of materials and technical assistance.
Colorado Firearm Safety Coalition is a group of gun show owners, firearm instructors, and public health researchers who came together with a shared goal of educating firearm retailers, range employees, and the general public about suicide prevention and firearm safety.
Lock to Live is a guide to help you make decisions about temporarily reducing access to potentially dangerous things like firearms, medicines, sharp objects, or other household items.
CALM – Conversations on Access to Lethal Means is a practical intervention to increase the time and distance between individuals at risk of suicide and the most common and lethal methods of suicide, particularly firearms.
Zero Suicide is a free, self-paced, online course for health care and social services providers. Learn to feel prepared when talking to someone about means safety.
Agree to Agree assists in finding common ground to reduce the impact of gun violence for children and teens through conversation guides, resources, and tools.
The 988 Colorado Mental Health Line (988) is the easy-to-remember number that allows anyone with emotional, mental health, or substance use concerns to be immediately connected with a trained specialist. 988 offers free, immediate, confidential human support 24/7.
Out-of-Home Storage Map
What are some reasons why gun owners may want to store firearms away from the home?
- They are traveling out of state and want to keep firearms secure while they are away
- A child or adolescent in the home is in crisis and at risk for suicide
- Their grandkids are visiting for a week
- They are divorcing and arguments with their spouse are getting heated
- A family member is experiencing mental health or substance use concerns
- They are listing their home for sale and want firearms to be secure while showings occur
Gun owners can lead the way on safety. The National Shooting Sports Foundation recommends temporary off-site storage for firearms when you are concerned about a loved one.
Out-of-home gun storage can be especially helpful to persons in crisis at risk for suicide. In partnership with Pierce’s Pledge, the map lists businesses that are willing to consider requests for temporary, voluntary gun storage in Colorado and across the United States. This information was collected in Spring 2024.”
- Gun Storage map: from the Colorado Firearm Safety Coalition
WATOPTP Toolkit Link
