Photo by Jay Rembert on Unsplash
DENVER, FEBRUARY 24, 2026 — Colorado Ceasefire, Colorado’s oldest grassroots gun violence prevention organization, is reminding gun owners that not securely storing guns can lead to criminal charges—and, much more tragically, to acts of gun violence that shatter lives and communities.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office recently announced that the parents of the suspected Evergreen High School shooter will not be charged. JCSO said “Investigators were unable to speak with the shooter’s parents, which complicated efforts to determine how the shooter gained access to the firearm,” and that the parents’ attorney claimed that the handgun the suspect used was kept in a safe, but must have been obtained by the suspect during a “brief [moment] when [the safe] was opened by his father.”
Ultimately, investigators determined there was insufficient evidence to establish probable cause or meet the legal elements required to present the case to the District Attorney for charges.
Secure storage of firearms saves lives and spares families and communities the devastation of gun violence. More than half of all U.S. gun owners store firearms unlocked, but studies show that as many as 30% of guns recovered at crime scenes are stolen, most often from cars. And more than 60% of guns used in K-12 school shootings were obtained by the shooter in their own home.
Colorado Ceasefire offers free safe storage training for groups, as well as free gun lock and gun safe distributions, depending on availability.
“Colorado Ceasefire’s goal is not prosecutions, it’s the prevention of gun violence,” said Colorado Ceasefire Executive Director Laney Sheffel. “We are all devastated to see children injured and killed when the solution is clear. Safe storage is a universal, proactive step that all gun owners can take to make our families and communities safer. Whether you’re a firearm owner or not, we all can play a role in normalizing conversations about safe storage. “
Colorado law requires that guns be stored in a locked safe, container, or secured with a locking device. In vehicles, handguns must be stored in a locked hard-sided container out of plain view, in a locked vehicle or trunk. Non-handguns may be stored in a vehicle in a soft-sided container, but must have a locking device, such as a trigger lock, installed on the firearm in the soft-sided container.
In Colorado:
- Unlawful storage of a firearm is a class 2 misdemeanor.
- Unlawfully providing a handgun to a juvenile or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun is a class 4 felony.
- Unlawfully providing a firearm other than a handgun to a juvenile is a class 1 misdemeanor.
- Unsafe storage of a firearm in a vehicle is a civil infraction and can result in a fine.
More information and resources on secure gun storage is available on the Colorado Ceasefire website.
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About Colorado Ceasefire
Colorado Ceasefire has led the fight against gun violence in Colorado since 2000. Our Legislative Action branch, a 501(c)4, has fought the gun lobby and has worked to pass more than 40 common-sense gun laws. Our Outreach branch, a 501(c)3, engages with Coloradans to promote gun violence awareness and prevention. Find out more and get involved at www.ColoradoCeasefire.org.