Advance Care Planning for Guns: Owners Can Help Ensure Safe Use and Transfer of Weapons

Firearm Life Plan is a new tool that can help gun owners and their families plan ahead for safe firearm use and the transfer of firearms in the event of disability or death.

The plan, created by researching at University of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Denver, is a way for someone to prescribe what they want to happen with their firearms should they die or become incapacitated. Nearly 42% of Americans 65 and older live in households with guns, and up to 60% of people with dementia live in homes with a firearm.

The Firearm Life Plan emphasizes personal responsibility, safety, and the importance of being prepared. The Plan is comprised of four parts: 

1. A list of warning signs that might cause a gun owner to use the weapon inappropriately 
2. A conversation guide for friends and family who may be concerned about their loved one
3. An inventory guide, prompting owners to list where the firearms are stored and who should get the firearms when transfer is appropriate
4. A “legacy” section of the guide allows owners to share memories and stories about their firearms and pass along knowledge to the next generation.

The creators of the Firearm Life Plan hope that gun industry groups, shops, and shooting rangers will make copies of the plan available to their patrons.

For more information:

See Judith Graham, “Advance Care Planning for Guns: Owners Can Help Ensure Safe Use and Transfer of Weapons“, Kaiser Health News, April 27, 2022.

Special thanks to Lewis Saret (Attorney, Washington, D.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.