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The small Pennsylvania-based nonprofit Hold My Guns\u00ae describes itself as \u201cfor gun owners, by gun owners.\u201d Its mission is to \u201cconnect responsible firearm owners with voluntary firearms storage through our national network of partnering FFLs, during times of mental health crisis or personal need.\u201d<\/p>\n
The process is simple. If a gun owner wants to securely store their weapons, they go to the website, find a participating Federal Firearm Licensee in their area, bring in their guns, fill out a contract and agree to pay a small fee for firearm storage, usually $5-$20 per month. When they pick up their guns, they fill out an ATF Form 4473, which makes the process compliant with ATF\u2019s custodial storage regulations, and then take their guns home.<\/p>\n
Sarah Joy Albrecht, founder and executive director of Hold My Guns\u00ae, says gun owners have used their safe storage during military deployments, while on vacation, during a difficult divorce, after a water main break, while they cared for an at-risk foster child and if someone is struggling with mental health.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people have a way to store firearms with family and friends who they trust, it\u2019s not always ideal to take their firearms to an FFL. However, not everyone is blessed with friends or family who can help. That\u2019s how we can meet their needs as a community who cares,\u201d Albrecht said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not always the gun owner who is the person at risk, but it\u2019s the gun owner being responsible for their household.\u201d<\/p>\n
Second Amendment attorney Joshua Prince of the Firearms Industry Consulting Group\u00ae, serves as the nonprofit\u2019s legal counsel. Prince developed the contracts used by the FFLs, which have sections for state and local laws pertaining to firearm transfers and guided the group through ATF\u2019s regulatory pitfalls.<\/p>\n
Albrecht described Hold My Guns\u00ae as a \u201cliberty-based\u201d nonprofit. She pointed out that when she refers to gun safety, she actually means gun safety, not gun control. Throughout the process, the gun owner\u2019s privacy is tantamount, especially given today\u2019s \u201cred flag climate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Albrecht didn\u2019t hesitate when asked about her nonprofit\u2019s biggest success: \u201cSomeone went with a friend to drop off their guns at a storage partner, who could tell there was something going on. It\u2019s hard to bring in your firearms, but they were grateful for the help. A month or two later when they picked them up, the gun owner was smiling. It was clear that whatever the situation was, it was not much of a problem anymore. There was a sense of happiness and relief. The gun owner was proud of themselves for being able to manage the situation and grateful for the service,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Secure Funding Needed<\/strong><\/p>\n During 2022, the nonprofit\u2019s FFLs stored five firearms. During 2023, 144 firearms were stored. As of this week, Hold My Guns\u00ae had nine volunteer FFLs in its network. Albrecht is the nonprofit\u2019s only paid employee, and she doesn\u2019t take home much.<\/p>\n At a board meeting Monday night, Albrecht announced the nonprofit had only three months of funding left.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need a secure funding source that will allow us to continue,\u201d she told the Second Amendment Foundation Tuesday. \u201cWe have turned down funding that had gun control attached. I have to be able to sleep at night, and I need to make sure there are no strings attached to any gun control. It\u2019s important that those investing in our mission are staunch Second Amendment supporters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need more FFLs, and we need a funding source that doesn\u2019t include any form of gun control,\u201d Albrecht continued. \u201cIt\u2019s the only way we can keep going. We are doing this for our own community, to be able to equip them with this service if it\u2019s ever needed. We want to be able to meet our community\u2019s needs.\u201d<\/p>\n Article courtesy of the Second Amendment Foundation\u2019s Investigative Journalism Project. This project wouldn\u2019t be possible without the support of gun owners. Click\u00a0<\/em>here<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to make a tax-deductible donation to support pro-gun stories like this.<\/em><\/p>\n