As family members age, conversations about safety become increasingly important. One topic that often gets overlooked is firearm ownership and whether an elderly person can still safely manage their guns. While many seniors have been responsible gun owners for decades, aging can introduce physical and cognitive challenges that make firearm safety a growing concern. Recognizing when it’s time to remove guns from an older family member’s home can prevent accidents and ensure safety for everyone involved.
A Personal Story: Taking Guns From My Parents
Though the memories attached to my personal story are tough, it is important to highlight the emotional and practical difficulties involved in the process of removing a loved one’s firearms.
My mother developed Alzheimer’s disease around 1998. She developed a late interest in firearms prior to her diagnosis and enjoyed shooting for only a short period of time. Despite her father being an avid hunter, shooter and fisherman, my mom was rather anti-gun. She most often did come along when my dad, brother and I went shooting. When she finally did tag along some time after I had become a law enforcement officer, she tried out our family’s Smith & Wesson .22/32 Kit Gun revolver and did well with it.
Following that outing, and with the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban looming, my mother decided to purchase her own pistol for home defense, a Glock 17 that was lightweight and easy to operate. Not long after, we noticed a change in her behavior. As her condition worsened, she became confused and careless with the firearm.
In one instance, she unintentionally pointed the loaded Glock at my dad. Recognizing the danger, my dad quickly took the gun from her and called me to remove the firearm from their home. Fortunately, she never asked about it again, averting a potential tragedy. The next year, my parents moved next door so that I could help with her care.
My dad, a WWII veteran, developed trauma-based dementia after suffering a subdural hematoma in 2002. After my mom passed in 2004 and while he was still in good health, I gifted my dad a 1991A1 Colt Commander .45 to replace a gun he had been forced to sell years earlier. Unfortunately, as his dementia progressed, he began misplacing his firearms.
At this point, I had a healthcare aide staying with him during the day. I took the opportunity of one of their outings to search the house and found the .22/32 revolver on top of one of the heating ducts in the basement. I took it home with me and, since my dad had forgotten about it, didn’t tell him I had found his misplaced gun. I also unloaded the 1991A1 Colt he kept in his desk and removed all the ammo from the house. It wasn’t much longer before I took the final action of removing the 1991A1 from the desk and taking it to my house.
I seemed to have taken action just in time, as one of the most alarming incidents occurred not long after removing the Colt from my dad’s home. When I arrived home from work and went to check on him after his aide was done for the day, I found my father enraged over his automatic dog feeder, which was broken in the driveway. In a fit of anger, he reached into his desk drawer, searching for the .45. Had the gun been there, he might have used it against me in a moment of confusion.
Some days later, my dad found his hidden car keys and attempted to drive to Sears to buy guns and ammunition, unaware that Sears hadn’t sold firearms for years. I involved the sheriff’s department to safely bring him home and arranged for his driver’s license to be revoked. He died peacefully in his own bed at home in 2008.
Aging and Firearm Safety
Both stories underscore the importance of being proactive in making difficult decisions before a dangerous situation can arise.
Aging can impact gun safety in several ways. Issues such as reduced vision, slower reaction times, arthritis and cognitive decline can make handling firearms more dangerous. Seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s or other memory-related conditions may forget basic firearm safety rules or misplace their guns, increasing the risk of unintended harm.
Common Signs That Indicate a Concern
It may be time to reconsider an elderly loved one’s firearm access if they:
- Experience memory loss or confusion about everyday tasks
- Have difficulty handling small objects due to arthritis or tremors
- Show signs of paranoia or impaired judgment
- Have frequent falls or trouble with mobility
- Are on medications that impact cognitive function or alertness
If an elderly gun owner forgets where they stored their weapon or misidentifies someone as an intruder, the results could be tragic. Medical professionals recommend evaluating an individual’s ability to safely own and operate a firearm as part of routine care.
How to Address Firearm Removal Respectfully
If you have the opportunity, a conversation with your family member is a good first step. Discussing firearm safety with an aging family member can be challenging, but approaching the topic with empathy and respect can make a big difference.
Rather than demanding they give up their firearms, start by expressing your concerns for their safety and well-being. A conversation framed around preserving their dignity while ensuring safety can often be more effective.
One approach to avoid causing conflict is to use personal experiences. Share stories where firearm safety has been a concern for other seniors. Be sure to emphasize that the goal is to protect them, not take away their rights. It may also be helpful to involve a trusted person in a place of authority, such as a doctor or another fellow gun owner.
Safe Storage and Alternative Solutions
If your elderly loved one is not ready to part with their firearms completely, consider safer storage solutions and alternative options. Invest in a biometric gun safe to restrict access while still allowing quick retrieval. Use trigger locks to prevent accidental discharges, and store ammunition separately to reduce the risk of immediate use in an unsafe situation.
When to Consider Transferring Firearm Ownership
If a senior gun owner is no longer able to manage their firearms safely, transferring ownership to a responsible family member may be a good option. This allows the senior to retain their firearms within the family while ensuring safety.
Gun laws vary by state, so it is essential to research legal options for transferring or storing firearms. In some cases, a legal guardian may be able to intervene if a senior is deemed unfit to manage firearms.
Making the Right Decision for Safety
This may be a difficult topic to contemplate, especially when it comes to taking firearms that meant so much to the person in question and perhaps to you, as it did in my case. You know those times with that person are gone forever. However, as a responsible adult, you must take action because if you don’t, the results could be tragic.
If a senior’s firearm use presents an imminent danger to themselves or others, it may be necessary to remove the firearms from their home. However, you don’t need a red flag order to do this. Red flag laws should only be a last resort if other measures fail. In my 40 years of law enforcement, I never encountered an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient armed with a gun threatening a stranger. Still, be sure to remove firearms legally and ethically, ensuring the individual understands the reasoning behind the decision.
Local law enforcement may be able to offer guidance on responsible firearm ownership for aging individuals. If you need to use discretion or even gentle deception to remove firearms from an at-risk loved one, do it. Unloading, hiding or relocating firearms can prevent irreversible tragedies. This is one of the more difficult responsibilities you will face, but it is a necessary act of love and protection. By approaching the topic with understanding and focusing on safety, families can help elderly gun owners transition into a safer phase of firearm responsibility without unnecessary conflict or distress.
