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Safety Study Hall: Secure Storage of Firearms and Ammunition

Spokane Public Schools

December 18, 2024

Content Warning: This article contains references to firearm-related violence and suicide.

Earlier this year, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and other community health and safety organizations, published Safety Study Hall, an online resource for schools, students, and families to learn more about health safety topics that are relevant to our community, including topics outlined by the Washington State Legislature in HB 1230.

Among the safety topics addressed by the DOH is Secure Storage of Firearms and Ammunition.

Storing firearms safely is important to keep everyone safe, especially children. Households that locked both firearms and ammunition were 78% less likely to experience self-inflicted firearm injuries and had an 85% lower risk of accidental firearm injuries among children, compared to households that did not lock either, according to a study published in "JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association."

Between 2002 and 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services reported that firearms were the leading cause of death for children and adolescents between 1-19 years of age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, firearms are the most common method used in suicide, and suicide accounted for approximately one fifth of deaths (18.6%) among youth ages 14-18 in 2021.

To prevent accidents and acts of violence, firearms should be kept unloaded, locked up, and away from ammunition. There are many easy-to-use options, like lockboxes or safes, that can stop children or others from accessing them.

In 2022, the SPS Board of Directors unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2022-13 to inform district families and the wider community about the importance of secure firearm storage.

“First and foremost, a firearm owner must assess their living situation and determine what sorts of storage requirements are necessary for them and when those storge requirements are needed,” shared Jeremy Ball, president and owner of Sharp Shooting Indoor Range and Gun Shop, at a school board meeting. With young children at home, Mr. Ball explained, “I store firearms in various methods by using a safe, lock boxes, and cable locks. All of these are sufficient methods for the firearm I am securing.”

Families without a way to securely store firearms can contact the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department, which offers free locks. Every firearm purchased in Washington through a firearms dealer also comes with a cable lock.

As stated in SPS Policy No. 4210, carrying a dangerous weapon onto school premises, school-provided transportation, or areas of other facilities being used exclusively for school activities in violation of RCW 9.41.280 is also a criminal offense. Please remember that bringing weapons or objects that resemble weapons to school can have serious repercussions for students, including expulsion for not less than one year, and a lasting impact on entire school communities.

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