Preventing Firearm Injury and Death

Safe storage protects what matters most: your family.

You want to make the best choices for you and your family. Safe storage of firearms reduces unintentional death, injury and hospitalization.

Get a Free or Affordable Gun Lock Safety Kit (Project ChildSafe)

More resources from Project ChildSafe:

Family of three laughing and hugging, enjoying time together at home.

NC Safe Storage Law

NC Firearm Injury and Death Data
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North Carolinians die every day from a firearm-related death

A growing public health problem

  • There were 1,787 firearm-related deaths among NC residents in 2023.
  • More than half of firearm-related deaths are suicides and more than 4 in 10 are homicides.
  • Men account for 86% of all firearm deaths and non-fatal injuries.
  • Children and families are among those most impacted. Child firearm deaths surpassed the number of child deaths from motor vehicle traffic crashes for the first time in NC in 2020.

You Are Not Alone.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, visit 988 Lifeline, call 988 or text 988 (for Spanish: text AYUDA to 988). 

The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential.

Hunter Education

More Resources

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North Carolinians Against Gun Violence (NCGV) is a nonprofit dedicated to reducing gun death and injury.

Project ChildSafe is a program to promote firearms safety and education and a source of free cable-style gun locks.

Means Matter is a campaign to increase the proportion of suicide prevention groups who promote activities that reduce a suicidal person’s access to lethal means of suicide.

North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV)

From NCDHHS

Keeping Families and Communities Safe (PDF): Public Health Approaches to Reduce Violence and Firearm Misuse Leading to Injury and Death
This report addresses public health strategies to increase community and family safety from firearm violence and misuse in a plan focused on implementing public health actions to reduce firearm injury and death.

Recommendations on Firearm Safety for Suicide Prevention (PDF)

From Other Experts