Gun owners across the country are being urged to take a moment this week to evaluate how—and how well—they’re securing their firearms. It’s all part of Gun Storage Check Week, a national initiative organized by Project ChildSafe and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearm industry’s largest trade association.
The aim is simple but urgent: “Make sure it’s secure.”
For Timmy Oh, CEO of Vera Safety, the message is deeply personal—and practical. Speaking with Radio Catskill, Oh explained that many gun owners keep firearms in easily accessible but unsecured places like nightstands or atop refrigerators. The idea is to be ready in case of an emergency, but Oh warns that this can have dangerous consequences.
“Children can find these spots. Intruders can too,” Oh said. “That’s why we’re helping gun owners understand that real security means some form of authentication—like a lock, key, keypad, or biometric sensor.”
Oh’s company, Vera Safety, started in Upstate New York when he was just 17 years old. Drawing inspiration from his uncle, a longtime officer in the LAPD, Oh saw a major gap in the market: gun owners wanted fast access and secure storage, but existing solutions rarely offered both.
So he designed one.
Vera Safety’s flagship product bridges the gap between a holster and a safe. “The handle is visible. You can grab it, and your thumb hits a biometric sensor. It unlocks in 0.2 seconds,” Oh explained. “You can mount it to your nightstand or even inside your car.”
The company has since gained national attention and support from gun owners, stores, and major industry groups.
While Gun Storage Check Week is voluntary and emphasizes peer-to-peer education, the conversation around gun safety inevitably intersects with politics. Oh recognizes that some states, like New York and California, have pushed storage requirements through legislation. But he says change is often more effective when it comes from within the community.
“When something becomes a mandate, people might reject it just because it’s from the government,” Oh said. “But if it’s coming from trusted sources—like the NSSF or fellow gun owners—it’s more likely to be accepted and followed.”
Research shows fewer than half of gun owners consistently store their firearms securely. Oh believes that’s a fixable problem—if people have the right tools and information.
“Hiding a gun is not the same as securing it,” he said. “We’re encouraging people to find a solution that works for them. Whether that’s a free cable lock or a biometric safe, there are options.”
Gun Storage Check Week continues through the weekend.
Learn more at ProjectChildSafe.org or through participating local firearm safety initiatives.
Story by Annie Bennett/Radio Catskill
Image Credit: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health