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Preventing firearm deaths

 Whether you’re a gun owner, or you know someone who owns a gun, there is a role for everyone in the conversation around secure gun storage and keeping students, families and the community safe from firearm violence and accidents.

 

Firearm Safe Storage

Research shows that hiding firearms is less effective than using secure storage methods.

Children and youth often know hiding locations and can access firearms if not securely stored.

In Colorado, most firearm deaths are by suicide (over 70%) (CDPHE, Colorado Firearm Data Dashboard, 2025). In addition, one in three Colorado middle and high school students report they can get a firearm, with many of them able to do so in under 10 minutes. (Source: Wright-Kelly, E. et al., Perceived Access to a Loaded Firearm Among Youths in Colorado, JAMA
Netw Open, 2025.)

Secure storage devices (e.g. trigger locks, safes) can be purchased from firearm retail and sporting goods locations across Colorado. Devices may also be available for free through Colorado health care providers and law enforcement agencies.

Learn more about
safe firearm storage options for
your home and vehicle

Data Highlights

Graph showing 49% of firearm deaths in youth ages 10-18 in Colorado are by suicide.

49% of firearm deaths in youth ages10-18 in Colorado
are by suicide.

Icon representing one in three kids

One in three Colorado middle and high school students report they can get a firearm, with many of them able to do so in under 10 minutes.

Stopwatch icon

 

Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms

Colorado law requires firearm owners to report a lost or stolen firearm to a local law
enforcement agency within five days of discovering the loss or theft. Reporting these incidents promptly gives law enforcement a head start (and may even help you recover your firearm).

Learn more about reporting lost or stolen firearms

Extreme Risk Protection Orders

Extreme Risk Protection Orders are a legal tool that can help decrease firearm-related suicide and violence. Other tools include
safe gun storage, voluntary out-of-home gun storage when someone is experiencing a crisis, and mental health and substance use treatment services. Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) are issued by judges to temporarily limit access to
firearms for individuals considered at risk of harming themselves or others.

Learn more about extreme risk protection orders

Colorado Firearm Laws and Regulations

Both the federal government and Colorado have laws about who can legally get, own, or use firearms.

Colorado law requires firearm owners to securely store firearms — using a locking device, gun safe, or gun cabinet — to prevent unauthorized access by children
and those prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal laws. These laws help keep communities safe from firearm- related harm. Find more information on the laws currently in place in Colorado by visiting the sites below:

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment: Colorado firearm laws and regulations

Colorado Bureau of Investigation: Firearm Legislation, Rules and Statutes

 

Taking Action: BVSD & Colorado

In March 2021 the Boulder Valley School District Board of Education took action, passing Resolution 21-12 in Support of Secure Storage to encourage gun safety and especially the secure storage of firearms. Since then, BVSD has been a leader in communicating to its families about the danger that unsecured firearms post to our students.

In 2025, the legislature followed suit, passing House Bill 25-1250, which requires school districts across the state to take similar actions to BVSD, making gun violence prevention material publicly available.

Be SMART

The non-partisan Be SMART campaign was launched in 2015 to promote responsible gun ownership in order to reduce child gun deaths. 

SMART stands for:

Secure all guns in your home and vehicles

Model responsible behavior around guns

Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes

Recognize the role of guns in suicide

Tell your peers to be SMART

Learn more about Be SMART

The 988 Colorado Mental Health Line

If you or someone you know is
struggling with an emotional,
mental health, or substance use
concern, call or text 988 or chat
with 988 at 988colorado.com.
The 988 Colorado Mental Health
Line is available for free,
immediate, human support 24/7.

Resources

Project Childsafe
Talking with kids about gun safety

Safe2Tell
Anonymously report any threatening behavior endangering your student, their friends, your family, your child’s school, or your community 

School Safety and Crisis Resources 

Office of Gun Violence Prevention 
Information about preventing injury and death in Colorado

LetsTalkGunsColorado.com
Whether you own a gun, live with someone who does, or just want to be part of the solution to gun violence, you can make a difference.

Gun Violence Prevention for Parents & Guardians of K-12 Students (PDF)

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Gun violence prevention and safe gun storage

Whether you own a gun, live with someone who does, or just want to be part of the solution to gun violence, you can make a difference. 1 in 20 adult Coloradans have a loaded gun stored unlocked in their home. This is a risk factor for firearms to be accessed by children or used in a moment of crisis for the purpose of self-harm. Every responsible choice counts, and the impact of safe gun storage reaches far beyond our individual homes. Learn more about safe gun storage and gun violence prevention at letstalkgunscolorado.com.

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Caring for the safety and wellbeing of our students this holiday season

It has been an unusual start to Winter Break. We hope this message finds you safe and well, as we, together, endure these high wind events and the resulting school closures.

Already the holiday season can be very stressful for adults and children alike, which is why we always reach out at the beginning of Winter Break to provide everyone with helpful resources to navigate the social-emotional challenges posed this time of the year.