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Colorado Attorney General

Phil Weiser

Colorado Attorney General

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Thousands of firearms are stolen in Colorado each year, and we know that safe gun storage can help prevent these thefts and save lives.

“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


Resources

To learn more about safe gun storage, check out the following resources:

  • Project Child Safe, of the National Shooting Sports Foundation
  • Colorado gun storage map
  • Household Safety: Preventing Injuries from Firearms 
  • Safe Firearm Storage Toolkit
  • Larimer County juvenile gun safety

Safety tips

Safe gun storage

Some common safety tips include the following:

  • Store your firearms in a locked cabinet, safe, gun vault or storage case when not in use, ensuring they are in a location inaccessible by children and cannot be handled by anyone without your permission.
  • Store your ammunition in a locked location separate from firearms.
  • Use a gun locking device that renders the firearm inoperable when not in use. A gun lock should be used as an additional safety precaution and not as a substitute for secure storage.
  • Always unload, clean and place your firearms in their secure storage location immediately after returning from a hunting trip or a day at the range.

Partners

Initiative participants
The following partners collaborated with our office in the creation of these public service announcements:
  • District Attorney Michael Dougherty, 20th Judicial District
  • Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle
  • Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock
  • District Attorney Christian Champagne, 6th Judicial District
  • La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith
  • District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin, 8th Judicial District
  • Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith
  • Larimer County Director of Criminal Justice Services Emily Humphrey
  • Cliff Reidel, former district attorney, 8th Judicial District
  • District Attorney Dan Rubenstein, 21st Judicial District
  • Mesa County Sheriff Matt Lewis
  • Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry
  • Dr. Emmy Betz

Office of the Attorney General
Colorado Department of Law
Ralph L. Carr Judicial Building
1300 Broadway, 10th Floor
Denver, CO 80203

(720) 508-6000

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