Birmingham Gun Shop Joins Effort to Prevent Veteran Suicide with Secure Firearm Storage Option
By Birmingham VA Health Care System, Public Affairs Office
A milestone event took place Friday as Redland Rifle officially opened its doors as a partner in the SAFER Together initiative — a powerful and potentially life-saving mission.
The shop is now the first Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealer in Birmingham to participate in the SAFER Together initiative, offering secure, voluntary, and temporary firearm storage for Veterans, first responders, and others facing personal crises.
The SAFER Together program, in partnership with Alabama’s Challenge, local suicide prevention leaders, and Veteran Service Organizations, provides individuals a way to temporarily and confidentially remove firearms from their home environment during high-risk or transitional moments — no questions asked. The effort is designed to create a critical pause that can prevent suicide and give people the time and space they need to heal.
The Birmingham VA Health Care System proudly supports this effort. “We are honored to stand alongside our state and community partners in putting more practical, compassionate measures in place to stop Veteran suicide,” said Dr. Oladipo Kukoyi, Executive Director. “Programs like SAFER Together reflect our shared commitment to protecting the lives of those who have served.”
“Having this location to provide secure storage of a weapon while someone reaches out for support is critical and changes the landscape for suicide prevention,” said Kelli Arthur, Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator at the Birmingham VA and co-chair of SAFER Together. “The peace I have knowing that a Veteran can walk into this gun shop and be met by someone who truly understands this mission and wants to help — it’s amazing. Not only do they have the option to remove the weapon from their space, but they can do so confidentially, without judgment.”
Redland Rifle’s participation marks a significant expansion of this statewide initiative, which aims to build a trusted network of FFLs offering secure storage. Importantly, SAFER Together is not affiliated with any “red flag” laws. It empowers individuals — particularly those within the military, Veteran, and first responder (MVFR) communities — to take proactive steps in safeguarding their well-being.
“We want to provide a place where a Veteran, first responder, or anyone can come in and take a break from that firearm,” said Jason Smith, SAFER Together Chairman. “Maybe they connect with someone who’s walked a similar path. Maybe they just drop off the weapon and walk away. Either way, this is about helping our brothers and sisters — we’re tired of losing them.”
At Friday’s event, stakeholders from the Birmingham VA, SAFER Together, Redland Rifle, and the broader community gathered to celebrate the launch. The ceremonial unveiling of program materials served as a reminder that one small action — locking up a firearm — can make all the difference.