Ask a trusted person to temporarily hold secured firearms

• A trusted friend or family member may be able to temporarily hold firearms during a period of increased risk. In Oregon, ORS 166.435 includes an exception for temporary firearm transfer when the purpose is preventing imminent death or serious physical injury, and only for as long as necessary to prevent that harm.
  For added safety, firearms can be secured with a cable lock, trigger lock, or locked container before being temporarily held by someone else. The person holding the firearm should be someone you trust, someone who can legally possess firearms, and someone who understands that the storage is temporary and safety-focused.

Lock firearms in a safe and separate access to the key or combination

• If firearms remain in the home, locking them in a safe is an important safety step. To create additional time and distance, ask a trusted person to temporarily change the combination or hold the safe key. This keeps firearms secured while reducing immediate access during a difficult period.

Store outside of the home

• If temporarily moving the entire firearm out of the home is not an option, consider storing a non-regulated, non-serialized firearm component outside the home, such as with a trusted person or locked in a separate, secure location. Separating an essential component can make the firearm inoperable while creating additional time and distance. Always confirm that the component and storage arrangement comply with applicable laws.

Store firearms, magazines, and ammunition separately

• Another way to create time and distance is to store firearms, magazines, and ammunition in three separate locked locations. For example, firearms may be locked in a safe, magazines in a lock box, and ammunition in a separate locked container. Separating these items creates extra steps and time between a crisis moment and access to a loaded firearm.

Create a delay with the key

• If using a cable lock, trigger lock, lock box, or safe, the key or combination should not be easy to access during a crisis. A trusted person can hold the key, or the key can be placed somewhere that creates a delay, such as frozen in water. The goal is not to make access impossible forever. The goal is to slow things down long enough for the crisis to pass and support to arrive.

The goal is temporary safety

These steps are not about taking firearms away permanently. They are about creating time, distance, and support during periods of increased risk. A small delay can make a lifesaving difference.