We recently hosted our annual NJ GVRC Summit in East Brunswick – bringing together researchers, community leaders, policymakers, and practitioners from the tri-state area and beyond. Our goal for the day was to learn about recent work in the firearm violence prevention field and provide a space for open dialogue and connection. Four keynote speakers presented on different topics across the firearm injury field:

•  Craig Bryan, “Military and Veteran Firearm Suicide Prevention"
•  Kerri Raissian, "The Limits of Passing Policy"
• Brooklynn Hitchens, "Unpacking the Triggers: The Evolving Roles of Street-Identified Black Women and Girls in Urban Gun Violence"
• Mike Sodini, "At the Intersection of Guns and Mental Health

We held breakout sessions where attendees shared their work and discussed what challenges and opportunities they see moving forward. Breakout sessions addressed suicide prevention, community violence, current political divides, and domestic and family violence prevention.

The NJ GVRC Summit offered an opportunity to come together across our work in the firearm violence prevention space. The day highlighted the impact of the support we have in New Jersey and how we will keep the momentum towards community well-being and safety going.

At the Promoting Secure Firearm Storage for Suicide Prevention session, we came together to address a key question: How do we make preferred in-home firearm storage devices more accessible and widely used?

Affordability and Accessibility
One of the first challenges we discussed was cost. Lockboxes and safes can run anywhere from $50 to $250, which isn’t affordable for many families. We explored ways to bring that cost down—such as working with insurance companies to offer discounts or even provide lockboxes directly, creating tax incentives for people who purchase secure storage or complete safety courses, and bundling a safe with a firearm purchase to make safe storage a standard part of ownership. 

Culture and Education
We also recognized that owning a safe doesn’t always mean it will be used. Changing culture around firearm safety is just as important as lowering costs. We talked about weaving firearm safety training into existing systems like the military, encouraging the industry to provide training with firearm purchases, and working with media and entertainment to model responsible storage in everyday portrayals. On the community level, we discussed the value of bystander intervention programs that create space for open conversations about gun safety.

Policy and Program Opportunities
Policy can support these efforts too. We considered how manufacturers could play a role in making safes a routine part of firearm ownership and how programs could focus on groups most open to behavior change. Delaware’s “Safe Kids” program was brought up as a good example: new parents receive goodie bags that include locks, offering both tools and education at a time when families are ready to embrace safety practices.

Looking Ahead
We know there are real challenges—costs, liability, industry coordination, and different state laws all complicate this work. But we also saw clear opportunities. By working together across public health, insurers, firearm manufacturers, and community organizations, we can make progress.

Promoting secure firearm storage isn’t just about handing out lockboxes. It’s about building a culture of safety, making sure the tools are affordable and accessible, and reinforcing why storage matters for suicide prevention. We are committed to continuing these conversations in New Jersey so that affordability, education, and culture change work hand-in-hand to prevent suicides. 

Get in touch with the GVRC at our website or reach out to njgvrc@sph.rutgers.edu