By considering this program, you are taking the first step in acknowledging the relationship between suicides and firearms. You have an opportunity to provide a Voluntary, Temporary and Confidential resource to your customers and your community. By participating in this program, you are declaring a joint effort in ending suicide in our Military, Veteran and First Responders.

There are many reasons and ways someone can create time and space between themselves and their method of choice. Some reasons could include something as simple as an individual having family over that is not familiar with firearm(s) and they are wanting to keep their home safe from incident or preparing to travel for a bit of time and wanting to securely store their firearm(s) outside of the home. Other reasons could include an increased risk of a loved one and wanting to make sure their firearms are not accessible to do harm, an increase in relationship strain between partners and proactively making sure impulsive actions are inaccessible or just knowing regardless of the situation, storing the firearms at their trusted FFL is best for their current situation.

An initial meeting with a SAFER Together partner to discuss your interest in this program and answer any questions you might have prior to agreeing to participate. 

You will order a Suicide Prevention Toolkit from The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) which includes Brochures. We ask that you place these throughout your store. The brochures are designed for customers discussing suicide, risk factors and warning signs, as well as resources available to your customer. You will also be provided with Veterans Crisis Line promotional items you can place alongside of the NSSF information.

We will send out a monthly email requesting your feedback on the conversations your staff are having within your store, any training requests, any promotional item needs and ask for simple numbers of how many times the program has been used over the last month, not personal identifiable information, just how many times someone has utilized the program so we can track the use. You can choose how you want to track this for a way that works for your store.

A network of supportive community partners to help you as your implement this program.

The ATF released an Open Letter to all FFLs on July 24, 2023 to help clarify the process of firearm storage services. The first option highlighted in the Open Letter is the approach SAFER Together is pursuing – “Providing a Storage Locker for Individual Use”. Feel free to reach out to your local ATF Office to discuss any further questions or concerns.

Please reach out to your insurance broker to verify this for your policy and store.

Currently the Alabama National Guard is leading the way for a Hold Harmless Bill to protect your store from any liability concerns. The hope is this legislation will pass during this upcoming legislative session.