The "Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025" directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a program providing veterans and certain former service members with secure firearm storage items or vouchers, along with information on secure storage options and suicide prevention strategies, while ensuring the program does not infringe upon lawful firearm ownership rights.
Chris Deluzio
Representative
PA-17
The "Saving Our Veterans Lives Act of 2025" directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a program providing veterans and certain former service members with secure firearm storage items or vouchers to obtain them, along with information on secure firearm storage options. The program aims to promote firearm safety and suicide prevention among veterans, while ensuring that participation does not infringe upon lawful firearm ownership rights. The Act allocates $5,000,000 annually from 2026 to 2036 for program implementation and requires annual reports to Congress on the program's progress and impact.
VA Directed to Offer Free Gun Lockboxes or Vouchers to Veterans Under New $5M Annual Program Starting 2026
This bill tasks the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with setting up a new voluntary program, outlined in a new section 1720M of Title 38, U.S. Code, to provide veterans and certain former service members with free secure firearm storage options. Specifically, eligible individuals can receive either a lockbox that meets defined safety standards or a voucher to obtain one. The program, authorized for $5 million annually from fiscal year 2026 through 2036, also includes providing information on safe storage benefits and aims to enhance firearm safety as a suicide prevention measure.
Locking Down the Details
So, what exactly does this mean on the ground? Veterans could get a physical lockbox directly from the VA or through collaborating partners, or a voucher to pick one up themselves. These aren't just any boxes; they must meet specific criteria, including the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard F2456-20, which focuses on preventing access by young children. They also need to be made in the U.S. and aren't supposed to be resold. Alongside the hardware, the VA will develop an informational video highlighting secure storage as a suicide prevention tool and run a public education campaign to ensure eligible folks know about the program. The VA is also directed to work with organizations that know their stuff when it comes to secure firearm storage.
What This Program Isn't
The bill goes out of its way to clarify what this program doesn't do. It explicitly states that participating in this voluntary program won't lead to tracking firearm ownership, require firearm registration, mandate storage in a certain way, prohibit or discourage lawful gun ownership, or create any lists of participants. The focus, according to the text, is purely on providing a safety resource for veterans who choose to use it.
Keeping Tabs and Looking Ahead
To ensure accountability, the VA will need to report back to Congress each year. These reports will cover how the program is running, how many lockboxes or vouchers are being distributed and used, efforts to reach veterans (especially those not enrolled in VA healthcare under section 1705), any roadblocks encountered, and plans for improvement. With funding earmarked through 2036, the goal is to create a sustained effort to provide these safety tools and information to the veteran community.