Free firearm injury toolkit released by researchers and partners at CU Anschutz

Free firearm injury toolkit released by researchers and partners at CU Anschutz

A free firearm injury toolkit was unveiled this week to help more states find voluntary firearm storage sites while creating online support maps to help save lives.

The toolkit was created by researchers from the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Injury Violence Prevention Center in collaboration with the Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program at the Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Storing firearms outside the home can be relevant in many situations. Examples include when someone in the home is at risk of suicide, a visitor to the home is prohibited from possessing firearms, grandchildren are visiting, homeowners are on an extended trip or military deployment, or when owners are renting or selling a home.”

Emmy Betz, MD, MPH, director of the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Emmy Betz led research and toolkit development.

Online state maps showing locations willing to store firearms are a new effort designed to connect community members with options for voluntary off-site firearm storage. Colorado became the first state to create a map in 2018, followed closely by Washington state in 2019. Today, at least portions of the maps are available online in eight states.

The new toolkit was created following a two-year research project that examined the perspectives and preferences of retailers, rangers, law enforcement agencies, firearm owners and groups that had created or were considering creating maps.

The research was supported by firearms-related funding from the National Institutes of Health – an example of how research can lead to nonpartisan, community-based interventions to prevent injuries and deaths. The weapons cache maps were highlighted by the White House in 2021 as an approach to suicide prevention.

“In most states across the country, most gun deaths are suicides,” said pediatrician Frederick Rivara, MD, MPH, who led the University of Washington School of Medicine in this collaboration. “The use of firearms results in death in 90% of suicide attempts, so firearms are an important focus in limiting access to lethal means for individuals and families in crisis.”

The online kit is intended to support community organizations, community coalitions, injury or suicide prevention organizations, academic programs focused on injury/suicide prevention, and other groups that wish to promote voluntary, temporary firearm storage. It includes background information on the reasons for storing away from home, as well as step-by-step instructions for locating storage locations and creating and publishing a Google map. It also contains sample storage contracts and links to currently available maps.

“Voluntary, temporary storage of guns away from home can be a life-saving option for firearm owners, and we hope this toolkit helps other cities and states develop resources to help their communities,” Betz said.

Source:

University of Colorado Anschutz

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