If you own a firearm and don’t have it secured, you can almost certainly get a free gun lock near you — no purchase, no catch. Programs run by law enforcement, public health departments, and national safety initiatives hand out free cable-style gun locks to anyone who asks, while supplies last. They’re a genuinely good first step toward keeping firearms out of the wrong hands. But it’s just as important to understand what a free lock does well, what it doesn’t do at all, and why it shouldn’t be the end of your storage plan.
This guide explains where to find a free gun lock, how the locks actually work, and — honestly — their real limitations, so you can use one as the starting point it’s meant to be rather than a false finish line.
If you’re weighing more serious storage, start with our hub: Gun Safes: Types, Ratings, Locks, and How to Choose.
The short version: Free cable gun locks are widely available through Project ChildSafe (distributed via local police departments nationwide), county and city health departments, and many gun shops and ranges. They’re free, they help prevent unauthorized and child access, and they’re worth getting. Just know the tradeoff: a cable lock is a child-access-prevention tool, not theft protection — for real security, it’s a stepping stone toward a safe, not a substitute for one.
Where to Get a Free Gun Lock
Free gun lock programs are more common than most owners realize, and they exist in every state. Here’s where to look:
Project ChildSafe (the big national one)
Project ChildSafe is the largest firearm safety program in the country. Developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and supported by a U.S. Department of Justice grant, it has distributed more than 41 million free firearm safety kits — each including a cable-style gun lock and a safety brochure (available in English and Spanish) — to gun owners across all 50 states and the U.S. territories. It works mainly through partnerships with thousands of local law enforcement agencies, so in practice the way you get one is usually through your local police department. You can also learn more and request a kit through the Project ChildSafe website.
Your local police or sheriff’s department
Because Project ChildSafe distributes through law enforcement, your city police or county sheriff’s office is often the easiest place to pick up a free lock — frequently right at the records window during business hours. Police departments from small towns to major cities participate, and many keep locks on hand year-round. A quick call or a look at your department’s website will tell you if they’re a participating agency.
County and city health departments
Many public health departments run their own gun-safety and free-lock programs, often framed around child-access prevention and suicide prevention. Durham County, North Carolina, for example, has run a Gun Safety Team through its Department of Public Health that provides free gun locks along with bilingual safety education — one example of the kind of local program that exists in communities nationwide. Check your county or city health department’s website for a similar initiative.
Gun shops, ranges, and community events
Federal law has required a locking device to be included with every new handgun sold since 2005, so a new-gun purchase comes with one automatically. Beyond that, many gun shops, ranges, faith-based organizations, and community safety events distribute free locks too — often the same Project ChildSafe kits.
How a Cable Gun Lock Actually Works
The free locks these programs hand out are almost always cable-style locks. A braided steel cable threads through the firearm’s action — down the ejection port and through the magazine well on most guns — so the action can’t close and the gun can’t be fired. The cable ends lock into a small padlock secured with a key. Some programs also distribute trigger locks, which block the trigger guard instead of threading through the action, though cable locks are far more common in free giveaways.
Because the cable runs through the action, the firearm must be unloaded to install the lock — which is a safety feature in itself, since it forces the gun to be cleared first. Once locked, the gun can’t be loaded or fired until the cable is removed. Keep the key stored separately from the firearm, the same way you would with any locked storage. And if several adults in the home need access, think carefully about who keeps the key and where — access is only as controlled as the key itself.
The Honest Limitations (Read This Part)
Here’s where we’ll be straight with you, because the programs handing these out won’t always spell it out: a free cable lock is a basic child-access-prevention device, not a security solution. Understanding the difference matters.
What a cable lock is not
A cable lock is not theft protection. Firearm safety researchers have pointed out that these locks are relatively flimsy — a determined person with a screwdriver, hammer, or wire cutters can defeat one, and experts describe a cable lock as little more than a temporary impediment to someone set on accessing the gun. It will slow down or stop a curious young child; it will not stop a burglar or a determined older teen.
There’s a second, subtler risk worth naming: false confidence. The concern safety experts raise is that someone gets a free lock, secures the gun once, feels they’ve “handled” safety, and stops thinking about it — even as a child grows into a teenager fully capable of defeating a cable lock or finding the key. The threat picture also shifts with age: most firearm deaths in the home are suicides rather than accidents, and for an at-risk teen, a cable lock is a weak barrier. A free lock is a good first move, but it’s a floor, not a ceiling.
The right way to think about it
Use the free lock — it’s better than nothing, it’s genuinely useful for preventing young-child access, and it costs you nothing. But treat it as step one. If your goal is keeping firearms secure from theft, from determined access, or over the long term, the next step is real locked storage: a quick-access handgun safe for defensive firearms, or a heavier safe for long-term storage. And if a firearm is going to sit locked and untouched for months, keep up routine inspection and maintenance so it stays in good working condition.
Common Questions About Free Gun Locks
Where can I get a free gun lock?
Start with your local police or sheriff’s department, which often distributes free Project ChildSafe cable locks. Your county or city health department may run its own program, and many gun shops, ranges, and community events hand them out as well. A new handgun purchase also legally includes a locking device.
Are free gun locks any good?
They’re worth getting and useful for their intended purpose — preventing a young child or unauthorized person from firing the gun. But they’re basic devices, not theft protection. A determined person can defeat a cable lock, so think of a free lock as a starting point rather than complete security.
How does a cable gun lock work?
A braided steel cable threads through the firearm’s action so it can’t close, and locks with a small padlock and key. The gun must be unloaded to install it, and once locked it can’t be fired until the cable is removed. Keep the key stored separately.
Is a free gun lock as good as a gun safe?
No. A cable lock prevents casual and child access; a gun safe resists theft, protects against determined access, and can add fire protection. They solve different problems. A lock is a good first step, but a safe is the real security solution for firearms you want protected.
Do new guns come with a lock?
Yes. Since 2005, federal law has required a locking device to be included with every new handgun sold in the U.S. Many manufacturers include one with long guns as well. That means if you’ve bought a new firearm, you likely already have a free lock.
Are free gun locks available in Spanish?
Often, yes. Project ChildSafe kits include a safety brochure available in both English and Spanish, and many local health-department programs provide bilingual educational materials as well.
Final Thoughts: A Good First Step, Not the Last One
The honest bottom line
Free gun locks are real, widely available, and worth picking up — through your local police department, your health department, or Project ChildSafe. They prevent child access, they cost nothing, and using one is better than leaving a firearm unsecured. Just don’t let a free cable lock become a false finish line. It’s a floor for firearm safety, not a ceiling — and for genuine security, the next step is a proper safe.
Ready to move past a cable lock? Our complete gun safes guide walks through the categories and tradeoffs, our small gun safes guide covers quick-access options, and if budget is the concern, our gun safe rebate programs guide can help you save on the upgrade.
For authoritative guidance on firearm safe storage, the ATF’s safe storage resources are a solid reference. Firearm storage laws and program availability vary by state and locality and change over time — always verify current details through official sources.
Related Reading
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about free gun lock programs and firearm storage. It does not constitute legal advice. Program availability, eligibility, and supplies vary by location and change over time, and many programs distribute locks only while supplies last. Firearm storage laws vary by state, county, and municipality. Always verify current details and requirements through official law enforcement, health department, or program sources before relying on them.
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