The armory project: Partnering with firearm retailers to promote and provide voluntary out‐of‐home firearm storage

Abstract

Introduction:In this article, we describe the development of a regional firearm storage network organized by investigators affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs and run by small business, firearm retailers who were also U.S. Veterans.Methods: Three firearm retailers participated as collaborators in the development of a temporary out-of-home storage program and as test sites in a 4-month, uncontrolled pilot. Both quantitative and qualitative measures were collected to assess feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and program effectiveness. Results: Data indicated the out-of-home storage program was feasible and acceptable to firearm retailers and their staff. The program led to changes in staff beliefs regarding the role of secure firearm storage in suicide prevention, dispersal of materials about the out-of-home storage program to customers, conversations about secure storage and availability of out-of-home storage, and actual storage of customers' firearms.Conclusions: We discuss the potential benefits and limitations of a voluntary out-of-home storage network organized by public health professionals but run by firearm retailers.

Engaging suicide prevention and firearm stakeholders in developing a workshop promoting secure firearm storage for suicide prevention

“…Our findings complement the findings of other similar studies showing that it is possible to engage and build relationships within the firearms community through participatory action research and that there are members of the firearms community interested in promoting suicide prevention (Constans et al 2023 ; Betz et al 2022 ). This was seen both in the strong enthusiastic response of our firearm expert stakeholders in the initial workshop development process and in the strong working relationships developed between co-facilitators across the four pilot communities.…”

“…To date, most efforts to encourage conversations about secure firearm storage have been aimed at clinicians and health care providers (Pallin and Barnhorst 2021 ). Recently, there have also been efforts to promote lethal means safety training among firearm retailers and instructors, and provide lethal means training to the general public (Houtsma et al 2023 ; Constans et al 2023 ; Ellison et al 2023 ). Research has shown that when designing firearm-related interventions, it is critical to engage firearm stakeholders (i.e., individuals with expertise in firearms such as firearm retailers or trainers, law enforcement and military personnel, or veterans), as firearm owners prefer messaging about secure storage that is aligned with their values and comes from individuals deemed trustworthy (Garverich et al 2023 ; Marino et al 2017 ; Pallin et al 2019 ).…”