Secure Gun Storage

Message from Superintendent Spence About Secure Gun Storage

At the October 8, 2024, Loudoun County School Board meeting, the Loudoun County School Board unanimously passed the Secure Storage Notification Resolution. This is a significant step towards enhancing the safety and well-being of our students and community.

This resolution aims to equip parents with vital information regarding state laws on firearm storage. By doing so, we hope to empower families to make informed decisions that prioritize safety at home.

The resolution highlights alarming statistics about gun violence in our country:

  • Approximately 4.6 million American children live in homes with at least one loaded, unlocked firearm.

  • Every year, around 350 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else, with 70% of these incidents occurring in their own homes.

  • Tragically, 1,200 children and teens die by gun suicide annually, often using firearms belonging to family members.

  • In cases of gun violence on school grounds, 75% of active shooters are current students or recent graduates, with up to 80% of shooters under the age of 18 obtaining their guns from their own homes, relatives’ homes, or friends.

Research indicates that secure firearm storage practices can reduce the risk of unintentional firearm injuries among children and teens by as much as 85%.  

Read Dr. Spence’s full communication regarding secure gun storage from Oct. 10, 2024.

Person presses the buttons on an unopened gun safe

Parent/Guardian Notification: Every school year, parents/guardians will be asked to acknowledge their awareness of LCPS’ gun safe notification letter, which outlines the importance of secure gun storage.

What is Secure Gun Storage*

Securing a firearm is an important part of keeping your family safe. Firearms are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. To help keep your family safe and prevent tragedies, it’s crucial to secure your firearm.

Secure gun storage solutions are not “one-size fits all.” One type of storage that may work for one gun owner may not work for another. The best kind of gun storage is the type (or types) that you will use consistently and that will allow you to secure all firearms in your home and vehicles, no matter whether they are stored together or separately. Here are some options to consider.

  • Cable lock

  • Trigger lock

  • Lock Box

  • Gun Safe

  • Console / Vehicle Gun Safe

All Adults Can Help Keep Kids Safe

Even if you do not own firearms, you can still respond proactively.

  • Ask about unsecured guns in homes your children visit. Helpful scripts are available in English and Spanish. 

  • Model responsible behavior by teaching your children what to do in the presence of unsecured guns. (Your kids may encounter them when you’re not there.) An age-by-age guide is available in English and Spanish.

  • Recognize the uniquely fatal role of guns in suicide. Learn the warning signs and available resources (like text/call/chat 988), and consider temporarily removing guns if you have them.

All LCPS students, staff, and community members deserve to be and feel safe. Securely storing firearms, and following the practices laid out above, are highly effective actions that everyone can take to help keep our community safe.

*Source: BeSmart, Secure Gun Storage Saves Kids’ Lives

An illustration of various secure gun safes and cabinets, highlighting different safe storage solutions for firearms, including a cabinet with rifles and ammunition.

Collaboration with Law Enforcement Partners for Free Gun Locks

Free Gun Locks:

  • The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) – the LCSO conducts information campaigns that urge the securing of firearms by means of a gun lock or safe. For more than a decade, they have distributed gun locks to adults at no charge at each of the following four regional stations:

    • Ashburn Station (20272 Savin Hill Drive, Ashburn)

    • Dulles South Public Safety Center (25216 Loudoun County Parkway, Chantilly)

    • Eastern Loudoun Station (46620 East Frederick Drive, Sterling)

    • Western Loudoun Station (47 W. Loudoun Street, Round Hill)


  • Middleburg Police Department - the Middleburg Police Department has ordered gun locks, which will be readily available to families in the Middleburg community who wish to have them. Once these gun locks are available, the Middleburg Police Department will make an announcement through their social media platforms and department website to ensure that community members are aware of this important resource.

Resources