Juvenile Gun Safety

Juvenile Gun Safety Mission Vision

Our Mission: Protect youth from gun violence through education, intervention, community engagement, and promotion of safe and secure gun storage

Our Vision: A safe community free of gun violence

Let's Talk About Gun Safety

Over the years, Larimer County has lost too many young people to gun violence. Easy access to firearms significantly increases the risk of accidental injury and suicide among children and teens. The Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition created a series of educational videos to raise awareness about youth gun violence, encourage responsible gun ownership, and foster conversation.

The overall message is simple: We need to talk about gun safety.

We believe every resident has shared ownership of our community’s safety.  We also believe in empowering people to make the best decisions for themselves and their families through access to fact-based, safety-focused information.

Focus areas include:
  • Responsible gun ownership and safe handling and storage of firearms.
  • Encouraging students to report concerning behaviors or guns in school using tools such as Safe2Tell.
  • Working with youth in the community justice system who have been involved in gun-related incidents.

Learn more, watch educational videos from the coalition, and access local resources by clicking below. 

Choices

One choice can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.

Positive decisions can protect opportunities, aspirations, and future success. Poor decisions involving firearms can result in consequences that permanently alter a young person's future. Talk with your teens about their futures and the choices that shape them.

Choices PSA (Spanish)
Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition PSA Rack Card
Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition One Pager

Links to Information and Resources for Families

Safe2Tell
Teen Mental Health and Suicide Awareness
Public Health- Firearm Suicide Prevention
Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program
Project Childsafe
End Family Fire
Firearm Safety Tips
Colorado Gun Storage Map

Crisis Resources & Contact Information

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, contact one of the crisis help resources below:

SummitStone’s Community Crisis Center
SummitStone's Mobile Crisis Response
Colorado Crisis Services, Text "TALK" to 38255, Call 1-844-493-8255

Additional community resources for supporting your child with grief and loss include:

Pathways of Northern Colorado
SummitStone Health Partners
Mental Health Connections
Families and Caregivers
Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Imagine Zero
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The Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition was formed in 2019 after law enforcement, school districts, healthcare professionals, juvenile justice agencies, and community partners recognized a growing need to address youth access to firearms, firearm-related incidents, and youth suicide through a collaborative community approach.


The coalition is made up of representatives from law enforcement, education, healthcare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, local government, and youth-serving organizations throughout Larimer County. The coalition is neutral on gun ownership. We are neither pro-gun nor anti-gun. Our focus is on responsible gun ownership, safe and secure firearm storage, youth education, and keeping children safe. We believe firearm safety is a shared community responsibility and that education and prevention can save lives

The Coalition

8th Judicial-Larimer District Attorney
8th Judicial-Larimer Probation Dept
Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Big Waves Inc.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County
City of Fort Collins Restorative Justice
Colorado Division of Youth Services
Colorado State Patrol
Colorado Youth Detention Continuum
CSU Police Department
Estes Park Police Department
Estes Park School District
Fort Collins Police Services
Imagine Zero of Larimer County
Larimer County Attorney’s Office
Larimer County Community Justice Alternatives
Larimer County Health & Environment
Larimer County Human Services
Larimer County Sheriff’s Office
Loveland Police Department
Poudre School District
The Center for Family Outreach
Thompson School District
Timnath Police Department
 
UCHealth
Windsor Police Department

It Only Takes a Moment

Teen suicide is the leading cause of death of young people in Colorado, and teenagers often don’t show warning signs at home.

 

It only takes a moment for a teen struggling with mental health issues to take their own life. Still, it also only takes a moment for a responsible gun owner to safely store and secure their firearms to eliminate an impulsive, tragic, and life-changing decision.

 

“Everyone can help to save a life, and it’s easier than you think,” said Rachel Olsen, Imagine Zero Coordinator, Alliance for Suicide Prevention. “Lock up your guns so your children can’t access them in a moment of crisis.”'

Adults can take several steps to prevent teen suicide:

  • Responsibly store and secure all guns and firearms from children.
  • Talk about gun safety with your kids.
  • Pay attention to a child’s behavior more attentively and encourage students to report concerning behavior or guns in school using tools such as Safe2Tell.

“Unfortunately, we do see a number of patients in our emergency departments every year who have attempted suicide by a number of methods. However, we don’t see suicide by gun when everything is locked up,” said Dr. Jamie Teumer, a longtime emergency physician in northern Colorado and Medical Director of UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland. 

 

“The most difficult situation is when the attempt comes out of the blue, and no one had any inkling that this could possibly happen. That’s why it’s important for anyone who owns a gun to make sure it is always stored responsibly. It’s a simple step that can save a life.”

It Only Takes A Moment Campaign Videos

Be Awkward...Ask Campaign

Building on the coalition's safe storage efforts, the "Be Awkward...Ask" campaign encouraged parents to ask an important question before playdates, sleepovers, and gatherings: 

 

"Are firearms present and securely stored?" 

 

The campaign was launched after results from the Larimer County Healthy Kids Survey revealed a concerning reality: 

 

One in four Larimer County youth reported they could access a loaded firearm without an adult's permission. 

 

That finding highlighted the importance of parents having conversations about firearm safety just as they would discuss supervision, allergies, or other safety concerns before their child visits another home. The campaign empowered families to make informed decisions, encouraged responsible firearm storage, and helped normalize conversations about child safety. By encouraging parents to "Be Awkward" and ask the question, the coalition promoted a culture where firearm safety conversations are viewed as a normal and important part of protecting children. 

Be Awkward... Ask Campaign Video 

Be Awkward... Ask Campaign Video (Spanish)

Badges from participating coalition agencies

Gun Safety For Juveniles Begins With Responsible Ownership By Adults

  • Always keep the firearm’s muzzle pointed in a safe direction. A “safe direction” means that the gun is pointed so that even if an accidental discharge occurred, it would not result in injury.
  • Always keep your finger off the trigger until you actually intend to shoot. When handling a gun, rest your finger outside the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Don’t touch the trigger until you are actually ready to fire.
  • Firearms should be unloaded when not actually in use. Whenever you pick up a gun, such as when removing it from or returning it to storage, remember to point it in a safe direction and make sure it is unloaded.
  • Be sure you know how your firearm operates: read the manual on your firearm, know how to safely open and close the action of the firearm and know how to safely remove any ammunition from the firearm and its magazine.
  • Store your firearms in a locked cabinet, safe, gun vault or storage case when not in use, ensuring they are in a location inaccessible by children and cannot be handled by anyone without your permission.
  • Store your ammunition in a locked location separate from firearms.
  • Use a gun locking device that renders the firearm inoperable when not in use. A gun lock should be used as an additional safety precaution and not as a substitute for secure storage.
  • Make sure young people in your home are aware of and understand the safety guidelines concerning firearms. Have them sign the Project ChildSafe Pledge for young people—a reminder that if they find an unattended firearm in their home or a neighbor’s to not touch it, and tell an adult.
  • Always unload, clean and place your firearms in their secure storage location immediately after returning from a hunting trip or a day at the range.
  • Educate everyone in your family about firearms safety.

Free Gun Locks

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Unit provides gun safety education materials and free gun locks at many public events. To request a presentation or find out about upcoming events they will be attending, please contact the Sheriff's Crime Prevention Unit Coordinator at 970-498-5159.

The Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition provides free gun locks upon request via our online Supply Request Form below. Please note that the gun locks we provide are not for resale. Our gun locks are only for free distribution to the public to promote responsible gun ownership. 

Supply Request Form

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Larimer Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition in the news

Other Colorado gun safety news