“Across the state, Sheriffs and other law enforcement members know that safe gun storage saves lives. Together, following in the footsteps of a model Larimer County coalition, we are encouraging state residents to safely secure their firearms so they can’t be used either by youth in the home, or by those seeking to steal them from vehicles. Colorado is a state dedicated to caring for each other, and taking responsibility for storing firearms safely is a vital aspect of that care.” — Attorney General Phil Weiser
According to Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith, between 2016 and 2019 more than 800 firearms were stolen from homes and cars in Larimer County, many of which had been unsecured in unlocked cars or improperly secured in homes.
“Coloradans can all agree—responsible firearms ownership is important to community safety. After two teenage deaths in the county were tied to stolen firearms, we were compelled to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future and formed a countywide coalition to promote responsible ownership and safe storage of firearms. The Colorado Attorney General’s Office took notice and offered to expand that safe storage and responsible ownership campaign statewide. We are proud to be a part of that effort.” — Smith
“As a parent, keeping my kids healthy and safe means everything to me. Sadly, as an ER doctor and researcher, I know that each year around 100 youth in Colorado die by suicide. Adolescence is a roller coaster of emotions and impulsive behavior, so even a teen who knows how to safely handle a firearm can be at risk of suicide on a bad day. That’s why it’s so important that parents with firearms keep them locked up and inaccessible to kids and teens when unsupervised.” — Dr. Emmy Betz, associate professor of emergency medicine and director of the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative at the University of Colorado School of Medicine
