Why should I lock up my firearms?
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens.
Chief John Kilbride of the Falmouth Police Department speaks about the importance of secure storage to prevent firearm tragedies in your home.
Let's normalize conversations that can keep our loved ones – and little ones – safe.
Keeping guns unloaded and locked up prevents unauthorized users, including children, from accessing and then being injured by firearms. You may practice secure storage at home, but other parents may not, and your children could be at risk in their home.
Did you know?
A 2025 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) revealed that nearly 13% of Maine high school students considered suicide in the past 12 months, and 5.6% attempted suicide at least once in the past 12 months.
By The Numbers
Why use secure firearm storage to protect younger children?
Children may not know the difference between a toy gun and a real gun.
A 3-year-old is strong enough to pull the trigger of a handgun.
Playing with a firearm is the most common cause of accidental death among children.
Why use secure firearm storage to protect teens and adolescents?
Ten times as many teens are committing suicide with firearms as small children who die by firearm unintentionally.
Most teens who attempt suicide do not have a mental health diagnosis and attempt within an hour of a crisis.
Almost all cases of youth firearm suicide involve a family member’s unlocked firearm.
Most school shootings are done by teenagers, with unlocked firearms they acquired at home.
Responsible gun owners lock up their firearms.
HELPFUL SAFETY TIPSSecurely storing your firearms can:
prevent your gun from being stolen
prevent children from finding and accidentally using your firearm
prevent suicide (including teen suicide)
prevent guns from going to school
Responsible Gun Ownership Starts with Secure Storage.
All guns in your home should be locked and unloaded, with ammunition locked separately. Make sure children and teens can't access the keys or combinations to lock boxes or gun safes. And remember not to keep loaded, unlocked guns in the car, or anywhere else on your property, either.
Read more here from the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention
