About The Armory Project

The Armory Project (TAP) helps prevent firearm suicides by facilitating safe, out-of-home firearm storage with trusted firearm dealers in local communities.

Firearm owners may consider temporarily storing firearms outside the home when they are traveling for an extended period or are away on a military deployment, when someone in the home is dealing with a mental health or substance abuse crisis, or when children are visiting. TAP partners including firearm retailers, shooting ranges, and gun clubs are helping save lives by raising awareness and decreasing stigma around voluntary out-of-home storage and providing temporary firearm storage for firearm owners when they need it.

Gun Shop Owner & TAP Partner

“Obviously, a gun store is not traditionally thought of as a place where you go to talk about mental health. But you have this brochure in front of you, and that opens up a can of worms… we’ve had multiple conversations that are beneficial for all.”

Why Temporary Firearm Storage?

Firearms are the most common and lethal means of suicide. Introducing time and distance between a person in crisis and their firearms has been shown to decrease suicide risk. The research also indicates that a person experiencing a suicidal crisis who cannot access their preferred means will not pursue an alternate method.

Suicidal crises are often very brief (most lasting approximately 10 minutes), and 90% of people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide.

Veterans and service members tend to own firearms at higher rates than the general population and are comfortable with firearms because of their training and experience in the military. Firearms are the most commonly used means of suicide among Veterans — and the most lethal.

Creating time and distance between a person in crisis and a loaded firearm can prevent suicide

Many firearm owners share that that temporarily storing their firearms with someone else or holding onto a friend or family member’s firearms for them, is acceptable; in fact, many people have already done this in the past. This practice seems familiar to many Veterans and military families due to norms in the military around using an armory to secure firearms when not in use or when it is unsafe for a service member to handle their service weapon. In conversations with firearm owners, we learned that temporary, out-of-home firearm storage was an acceptable intervention if certain conditions are met.

Trust is paramount when addressing issues such as suicide, mental health, and the right to firearm ownership. The firearm retailers involved in developing The Armory Project are all Veterans who are dedicated to serving their communities. Together, we recognize the importance of promoting secure firearm storage to prevent misuse, accident, theft, and suicide.

TAP partners Josh and Felicia Burns of Apocalypse Sports in Ponchatoula.

In addition, we know:

  • If a need arises to store one’s firearms somewhere other than the home, firearm owners report a preference for storing firearms with trusted friends or relatives.

  • However, because of privacy concerns and perceived stigma around mental health issues, many firearm owners may avoid sharing their life struggles and challenges with others.

  • Sometimes, a person is socially isolated and doesn’t have anyone who can hold their firearms for them.

  • Some states do not allow for temporary firearm transfer or the process for temporary transfer is complicated.

In these cases, a firearm owner may prefer temporary firearm storage options with a trusted outside party, such as a firearm retailer, gun range, and gun club. In addition, storing firearms with a firearm business is perceived as a more “professional” option and helps them feel more in control of a difficult situation.

The Armory Project: How It Works

The Armory Project includes firearms dealer partners in Louisiana who have agreed to provide this temporary storage service for their customers. Many of the retailers involved are veterans, and all seek to serve the veteran community as well as cultivate additional community partners to make the project more successful. We are proud of the dedication and thoughtfulness of our partners.

While each gun shop has their own individualized process for managing the storage, The Armory Project team provides our storage partners with training as well as guidance on 1.) contractual options for temporary storage; 2.) staff training on how to have a conversation with someone in distress; and 3.) mental health referral options. TAP also provides printed materials including brochures, posters, stickers, and banners, all developed collaboratively with the retail partners.

  1. Consider if temporary firearm storage may be an option for you.

    Storing your firearms outside the home temporarily could be helpful in a number of scenarios.

  2. Visit your nearest TAP partner location.

    See the map for all current locations of TAP partners across Louisiana.

  3. Speak with a representative at the gun shop about The Armory Project.

    The folks at a partner gun shop will be happy to discuss the program with you and provide details about the options the shop offers (each shop determines their own policies and processes).

  4. Sign an agreement and drop off your firearm(s).

    If you decide to store your firearms with a TAP partner, you may be asked to review and/or sign an agreement when you drop off the firearms. The purpose of this agreement is to outline some details, such as how long you might be storing the firearms and how you will retrieve your firearms when you are ready. TAP firearm retailers follow the law and utilize their professional discretion in choosing how to accept firearms for temporary storage and return those firearms when the owner is ready to have them back.

  5. When you are ready, return to the gun shop to retrieve your firearm(s).

    Follow the process you discussed with the firearm retailer when you dropped off the firearms for temporary storage. 

Project Background

 

We spent 6 months developing The Armory Project in partnership with several firearm retailers and another 4 months pilot-testing and evaluating the program. We learned the program is acceptable to staff and customers, relatively low-cost, and feasible to implement. We have continued expanding the program ever since.

Between October 2021 and May 2023, we onboarded 10 firearm retailers and trained 32 staff. Retailers reported talking to over 200 customers about temporary storage of their firearms and that at least 30 firearms had been stored for customers who requested it.

We found the existence of the storage program leads to open conversations about mental health and suicide prevention with TAP partners. This increased awareness and discussion around mental health may also contribute to the prevention of firearm suicides. By partnering with firearm retailers and community stakeholders to develop options for voluntary, temporary out-of-home firearm storage, this intervention reaches people in their communities in a relevant and practical way. Importantly, this practice can complement related efforts for outreach and education done within the community and allow for partnerships with diverse groups focused on suicide prevention.

 

Frequently
Asked
Questions

  • As described in other parts of this toolkit, about half of all suicides in the United States involve a firearm, and the percentage is much higher for Veterans and service members. When an individual is at risk of suicide—especially when someone is at high risk—it may be best to temporarily remove lethal means (firearms) from the home. Putting “time and distance” between a person at risk of suicide and firearms will give the person time to get help and to get their firearms back when they are ready.

    Some people may also want firearms temporarily stored outside of the home when going through a divorce, loss of job, have children visiting their home, if someone in the home is experiencing dementia or other memory issues, or if they are traveling out of state or on a deployment.

  • A person who is having suicidal thoughts may not want to tell their family or friends, and some firearm owners may experience stigma around admitting to family or friends that they can’t have their firearms at home. Also, social isolation is a major risk factor for suicide risk, and some people who are having suicidal thoughts may not have anyone they can turn to for temporary firearm storage.

    In addition, while many state laws allow a person to give their firearms to a family member or friend to hold onto for them (if that person is not prohibited from owing firearms), some states have laws that make temporary transfer of firearms from one individual to another more challenging. In these states, a firearm retailer or range may be the best option for temporary out-of-home storage.

  • Organizations like the National Shooting Sports Foundation recommend temporary off-site storage for firearms when you are concerned about yourself or a loved one. Currently, a national non-profit called Hold My Guns is working to connect firearm owners with voluntary storage locations. There are efforts similar to TAP in many states including Colorado, Wisconsin, and Washington; we provide a table listing these groups in the main part of the toolkit. We may not be aware of every effort, and new groups may get started at any time, so our list is not exhaustive.

  • Blurb right here. Download the TAP Toolkit here (PDF).

  • The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) published an “Open Letter” to FFLs regarding storing firearms for members of the public. It was posted July 2023 and is available on the ATF’s public facing website at https://www.atf.gov/rules-and- regulations/firearms-open-letters.

    ATF notes that FFLs can provide storage lockers for firearm owners on their premises, where an individual could temporarily store firearms on their own (not transferring the firearms to the FFL). This option may be preferred in some states and by some FFLs. However, there may be FFLs who do not have sufficient storage space for providing lockers, and/or there may be concerns about security of lockers. In addition, some individuals may have firearms collections of a size that prohibits the storage locker option.

    A FFL may use what TAP calls a “consignment hold” or temporary transfer agreement between a FFL and a firearm owner. In this case, the FFL logs the firearm(s) in their Acquisition and Disposition (A&D) logbook, and the owner must pass a 4473 Background Check in order to have their firearms returned. (Please see the TAP Temporary Storage Agreement Template for more information.)

    TAP has also heard from FFLs who have had a firearm owner drop off a firearm for Smithing (Repair) and Cleaning services and not come back to pick up the firearm until they are ready. In the case of Smithing and Cleaning, a FFL must log the firearm(s) into their A&D logbook if the firearm is left for more than 24 hours, but the firearm owner does not have to complete a 4473 Background Check in order to have their firearms returned (note: it must be the original owner who is picking up the firearm).

    Please always check with the ATF for guidance and up-to-date regulations and laws.

  • The process of voluntarily storing firearms outside the home, as promoted by TAP, is different from the required removal of firearms that occurs under Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), also known as “Red Flag Laws.” Under an ERPO, a court may rule that an individual who is deemed at high risk of harming themselves or others must relinquish all firearms and may not purchase additional firearms until the ERPO expires. With TAP, an individual firearm owner voluntarily chooses to temporarily store his/her firearm(s) away from home. There is no official court or law enforcement agency involvement with voluntary storage under initiatives such as TAP.

  • Coalitions like TAP do not collect that information. Rather, these groups are looking to create a public resource where firearm owners can voluntarily and temporarily store their firearms during a time of crisis or other need. TAP does not ask for names or identifying information about firearm owners who store their firearms with a firearm retailer. As part of evaluating TAP’s success, we ask our retailer partners to let us know how things are going, how many people they have spoken with about temporary out-of-home firearm storage, and approximately how many firearms they are storing for customers.

  • There are several options in the event this happens.

    If the firearm owner believes the denial is a mistake, they can appeal it with the ATF and the FFL can continue to hold the individual’s firearm(s) until the appeal has been considered.

    If the firearm owner is still denied, they may be able to have the firearm(s) transferred to a family member or friend; however, the FFL may want to consult their local ATF field office or field liaison for guidance and/or may want written assurance from the person who is taking possession of the firearm(s) that they understand the original owner has been denied from having firearms and the firearms cannot be given to that person.

    Finally, the FFL may offer to purchase the firearm(s) from the owner and/or sell them on consignment for the owner.

    This situation is complicated, and it may be helpful for a FFL to have a transparent discussion with the firearm owner about this possibility prior to storing firearms. Our Storage Agreement Template provides suggested language for guiding such a conversation.

  • As of 2023, a question on Form 4473 asks: “Have you ever been adjudicated as a mental defective OR have you ever been committed to a mental institution?”

    If a firearm owner seeks mental health treatment (e.g., goes to therapy or outpatient mental health treatment, seeks inpatient mental health treatment, is prescribed and takes medication), they should not need to check “yes” to this question and their mental health treatment should not impact their ability to pass a background check.

Webinar: Preliminary Findings

This presentation on the preliminary findings of The Armory Project was part of the VA’s CPG for Suicide Prevention Webinar Series. The presenters discussed lessons learned so far, including community collaboration strategies and facilitating discussions about mental health and suicide prevention in gun shops.