City of Long Beach announces free firearm safe giveaway to help prevent accidental shootings and firearm theft

Long Beach, California – The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) will once again provide residents with free firearm safes as part of an ongoing effort to reduce firearm-related injuries and improve public safety across the community.

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, the city will distribute 200 free firearm safes at three Health Department locations. The giveaway is intended to help prevent accidental shootings, reduce unauthorized access to firearms, protect children, and discourage firearm theft by encouraging responsible firearm storage.

Officials said the safes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and no registration is required. Because of strong interest during last year’s event, residents are encouraged to arrive early.

“We saw tremendous community interest in this program last year, which demonstrated how important safe firearm storage resources are for Long Beach families,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Safe firearm storage is one of the most effective ways to help reduce unintentional shootings, youth access to firearms and firearm theft. The City continues to invest in evidenced-based violence prevention and public safety strategies that help protect residents and strengthen community.”

The program returns after its successful debut in 2025, when every available firearm safe was claimed within just 15 minutes.

Three pickup locations available across the city

City officials plan to distribute approximately 67 firearm safes at each participating location beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 4.

Residents can pick up one firearm safe per household at the following locations:

• Main Health, 2525 Grand Ave.
• Miller Family Health Education Center, 3820 Cherry Ave.
• Ron Arias Health Equity Center, 6335 Myrtle Ave.

Each safe weighs approximately 10 pounds and is designed to securely store up to two handguns. Along with the safes, residents will receive educational materials covering responsible firearm storage and general firearm safety.

The city emphasized one important rule for the event: firearms must not be brought to any distribution site. Weapons of any kind, including firearms, are prohibited inside City facilities.

Health officials say the goal is not only to distribute safety equipment but also to educate families about practices that can reduce preventable tragedies involving firearms.

Safe storage promoted as a proven prevention tool

Acting City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada said securely storing firearms remains one of the most effective ways to reduce several types of firearm-related harm.

“Firearm injuries are preventable, and safe storage is a proven strategy to reduce risk,” Okada said. “By securely storing firearms, residents can help prevent accidental shootings, unauthorized access, theft and suicide-related harm, contributing to a safer community for all.”

According to the city, the initiative is funded through the City Council-approved Fiscal Year 2026 Racial Equity and Reconciliation Budget, which includes $40,000 in one-time funding for the City’s broader Racial Equity and Reconciliation initiative.

Officials said the firearm safe program also supports the Health Department’s violence prevention strategy while advancing Goal 2 of the Framework for Reconciliation and Goal 5.1 of the City’s 2030 Strategic Vision, both of which focus on creating safer communities and protecting children and young people from violence.

The Health Department noted that national public health data identifies firearms as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States, making safe firearm storage an important part of injury prevention efforts.

To further encourage responsible ownership, the department recommends parents and caregivers follow Everytown for Gun Safety’s Be SMART framework, which promotes several key practices.

The framework encourages firearm owners to secure all guns in homes and vehicles, model responsible behavior around firearms, ask whether unsecured guns are present in homes their children visit, recognize the connection between firearms and suicide risk, and tell others to Be SMART by sharing safe storage practices with family members and friends.

City officials believe combining free firearm safes with public education gives residents practical tools to reduce preventable injuries while helping protect children, families, and the wider Long Beach community. The city expects another strong turnout for this year’s event and advises residents to arrive early, as supplies are limited and likely to be distributed quickly.