For senior gun owners and families planning ahead. Respect for ownership combined with safety as cognitive health changes.
Firearms stored in a locked safe
Quick-access biometric or electronic safes ($150-$400) allow the owner to access quickly while preventing anyone else. Mounted to the wall or floor for theft resistance.
Ammunition stored separately from firearms
Different cabinet, different room, or locked separately. Reduces both accidental discharge risk and burglary value.
Trigger locks on any firearm outside the safe
Inexpensive ($10-$30 each). Many county sheriff's offices give them free. Walmart and Cabela's stock them.
Combination/code not written on or near the safe
Memorize it. Tell one trusted person (spouse, adult child, attorney) for emergencies. Don't keep it in the same drawer as the safe key.
Have the conversation while everyone is calm
Don't wait for a crisis. The Alzheimer's Association and the Veterans Administration both have scripts. Frame it as planning, not taking — the gun owner stays in control of the decision.
Voluntary out-of-home storage during cognitive decline
HoldMyGuns.org connects you with gun shops and FFLs that store firearms during family crises, often free for 90 days. Some sheriff's offices also offer this.
Change the combination ONLY the caregiver knows
When dementia progresses, an honest move: change the safe combination. Storage stays in the home; access changes. No firearms get taken away.
Remove firing pins or disable instead of remove
Some families prefer to keep firearms in place for the dignity of the owner but disable them. A gunsmith can remove and store firing pins for $20-$50/gun.
List each firearm in your will or trust
Make and model, serial number, intended recipient. Some firearms (NFA items like suppressors, short-barreled rifles) require a Gun Trust to legally transfer.
Verify recipient is legally allowed to inherit
Felony conviction, dishonorable discharge, domestic violence misdemeanor — any of these disqualifies. Federal law 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). An FFL transfer dealer can run a background check.
Gun Trust ($300-$800)
Allows multiple authorized users, simplifies inheritance, especially valuable for NFA items. Worth consulting an estate attorney familiar with firearms law.
Out-of-state transfers require an FFL
You cannot mail a firearm directly to a relative across state lines. It must go FFL-to-FFL. Cost: $25-$75 per transfer at the receiving end.
Suicide concerns - 988 (then press 1 for veterans)
Free, 24/7, confidential. Trained counselors. The phone call alone is the intervention. Veterans get specialized support after pressing 1.
Temporary storage during crisis
HoldMyGuns.org and Walk the Talk America have national directories of voluntary storage partners. No questions asked. Often free for 90 days during a mental health crisis.
Alzheimer's Association - 1-800-272-3900 (24/7)
Trained on the firearm-and-dementia conversation. Walks family members through scripts. Free.
AFSP firearm-and-suicide resources
AFSP.org has free brochures co-developed with the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Designed for gun-owning families. Respectful of the gun culture.
Crisis line: If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). Veterans press 1 after calling. Free, 24/7, trained crisis counselors. Your firearm staying safely stored — even temporarily — is the single most effective suicide prevention measure researchers have studied.