More ways to keep everyone safe
A court order is one option. Many families make things safer without going to court, by locking guns up or moving them out of the house for a while. Pick what fits your situation.
From a conversation to a court order
Talk about it
Ask the person, calmly, if the guns can be put away or stored somewhere else until things get better. [38]
Ask a court for an order
When the danger is high and the person will not agree to a safer plan, or is trying to buy a gun. [1]
Get emergency help
If the person is in crisis right now, call 911 or 988. Maryland also has a way to ask for an emergency mental health evaluation. [13]
You do not have to go in order. If the danger is high, skip ahead. You can also do more than one at once.
How to talk about the guns
- Pick a calm moment. Not during an argument.
- Make it about safety, not blame. The goal is time and distance during a hard stretch. It is not about taking the guns away for good.
- Say why. A crisis often passes quickly. About 9 in 10 suicide attempts with a gun end in death [19][18].
- Agree on details. Who will hold the guns or the keys, where, and until when.
- Ask about every gun. Rifles and shotguns too, not only handguns.
If the person has a doctor or therapist, ask them to help with this conversation.
“I’m worried about you. A lot of families keep their guns somewhere else until things settle down. It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Who could hold onto them for a while?”
“Would it be okay if your brother kept the key to the safe for a few weeks?”
Maryland’s safe storage map
This map shows Maryland police departments, gun shops, ranges and storage businesses that have said they will consider storing guns for a while. It is run by Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence with Pierce’s Pledge [39][34].
- Call first. Fees, paperwork and rules are different at each place and can change.
- Ask how to get the guns back and how long they can stay.
- Carry them safely: unloaded, in a locked case, straight to the site.
Giving guns to a friend or relative has legal rules. You may never lend a rifle or shotgun to someone who is not allowed to have guns. Giving one to anyone outside your immediate family usually has to go through a licensed dealer with a background check. Handguns can only change hands through a licensed dealer or a designated police agency [15][16][17]. If you are not sure, use a storage site or ask the police.
Some families need a different plan
Older adults and dementia
Dementia can bring confusion and aggression. About 1 in 5 home caregivers report aggression from the person they care for [35]. Talk early about who will take the guns when the person can no longer handle them safely. Only about 1 in 5 older gun owners has a plan like this [36].
Children and teens
In a Maryland study of 13 young people who died by suicide with a gun, 10 used a gun that belonged to their family [33]. If a child or teen is struggling, move the guns out of the home. At other times keep them locked, unloaded, with ammunition separate and keys out of reach [31].
If you are afraid of the person
Do not put yourself at risk to move or lock up guns. In an emergency call 911. A protective order or peace order can order someone to stay away from you [8].
If you need protectionA family gun safety plan
Write the plan down. It makes the agreement clear: what is stored where, who holds the key, and when you will look at it again. It is a family agreement, not a legal document.
A safety plan for the crisis itself helps too: warning signs, ways to cope, and people to call. In one study, a plan like this with follow-up phone calls was linked to 45% fewer suicidal behaviors over the next six months [37]. A doctor, therapist or 988 counselor can help you make one.
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Have you, or someone you love, been under an ERPO?
If you are under an Extreme Risk Protective Order now, have been in the past, or a loved one has, researchers would like to hear about your experience.
- About an hour
- Can be done virtually
- Compensated
- Private and confidential