San Francisco Launches Free Gun Storage Program at Police Stations

San Francisco Launches Free Gun Storage Program at Police Stations

SAN FRANCISCO — City officials have unveiled a first-of-its-kind program that allows residents to voluntarily store firearms at police stations for up to a year, free of charge. The initiative aims to reduce risks of gun violence and accidents by keeping homes safer.

The program, announced this week, is being launched in partnership with a nonprofit founded by Leslie Hu, a San Francisco mother whose 9-year-old son was killed by his father during a custody dispute in 2021. Hu’s nonprofit has since developed a nationwide map of safe firearm storage sites, many of which are private gun stores.

But in San Francisco — where no gun shops currently operate — Hu says this program fills a critical gap.

“Families in our city deserve options to make their homes safer,” Hu said. “This program provides an accessible, responsible solution.”

Residents can bring firearms to any police station in San Francisco for voluntary storage. Officials recommend calling ahead before drop-off, at which point participants will receive step-by-step instructions. Guns may be stored for up to 12 months at no cost.

Advocates say the program is particularly important in urban areas where safe storage alternatives are limited. Public health experts note that temporary firearm storage has been shown to prevent suicides, domestic violence tragedies, and accidental shootings.

City leaders hope San Francisco’s approach will become a model for other jurisdictions seeking to balance public safety with responsible gun ownership.