Today we’d like to introduce you to Leesa Ross
Hi Leesa , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2009, my son Jon died in a gun incident while with friends. His loss changed my life forever. In the aftermath, I searched for where I belonged, joining many organizations in the gun safety and firearms community. I’m an alumni of the Everytown for Gun Safety Survivor Fellowship program and the Austin Citizens Police Academy. I was a member of the NRA. I was trained in the Be SMART program. And my family owns firearms.
Through those experiences, I saw the strengths in many programs, but I also realized they didn’t go far enough. Most focused on educating parents, but I felt a deep need to reach teens and young adults—the next generation of gun owners. That’s why I started Lock Arms for Life—to fill that gap, providing gun safety education and resources that speak directly to youth, young adults, and families.
Since then, we’ve provided thousands of free gun locks, worked with schools, law enforcement, and public health agencies, and even created a graphic novel to teach kids about safe storage. My goal isn’t about politics—it’s about preventing tragedies like Jon’s and making safe storage the norm for every household. Every lock we hand out, every conversation we spark, and every young person we educate makes this work worthwhile.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. We understand the contentious divide when it comes to gun ownership and gun reform, but we believe that safe storage is common ground—a bridge that all parties can cross together.
One of the biggest challenges has been navigating that divide. Some people assume that because we advocate for gun safety, we must be against gun ownership, while others think we don’t go far enough. But the reality is, we’re here to save lives, not take sides. I believe responsible gun ownership includes securing firearms properly.
Another challenge has been changing mindsets. Many people don’t think an unintentional shooting could happen to them—until it does. That’s why our approach focuses on education, conversation, and providing the tools families need to make safe storage easy.
But, I’ve seen incredible moments of unity—parents, gun owners, and even law enforcement coming together to support this mission. That’s what keeps us going.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Before the tragedy, I was like many other mothers. I was a PTA member, a homeroom mom, attended all my boys’ sporting events, and played tennis at the local country club. We had two dogs. I donated to causes but was never an outspoken advocate. That all changed when Jon died.
After his death, I became a published author, sharing my experience in a book published by Texas Tech University called At Close Range. But I didn’t stop there—I founded Lock Arms for Life, an organization dedicated to safe practices and safe storage through education and awareness.
I believe what sets us apart is our nonjudgmental, solutions-based approach. Again, we don’t take sides in the gun debate—we focus on saving lives.
I don’t know if our work has prevented tragedies but I pray everyday that it will. Every lock, every conversation, and every young person I educate makes a difference. I never imagined I’d be doing this, but I hope Jon’s story is saving lives—and that’s what keeps me going.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Honestly, I hope people put me out of business. I hope that in 5-10 years, safe storage is as second nature as wearing a seatbelt—so ingrained in our culture that organizations like mine aren’t needed.
That said, I think we’re going to see a big shift in how gun safety is talked about. More schools, medical professionals, and community organizations are recognizing that safe storage isn’t political—it’s just common sense. I expect more states and cities to invest in public education campaigns.
Technology is helping too, with biometric safes. But at the end of the day, no gadget replaces awareness and responsibility. That’s why education—especially for young people—needs to be front and center.
I also have to give thanks to Austin Public Health Office of Violence Prevention, our main source of funding, for believing in me and continuing to support my work. Their commitment to this issue has allowed us to reach more families, provide thousands of gun locks, and push forward life-saving education.
I hope that in a decade, conversations about safe storage are happening everywhere—at the dinner table, in classrooms, at churches and at gun stores. If that happens, I’ll gladly close up shop, knowing we’ve done our job.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lockarmsforlife.org
- Instagram: @lockarmsforlife
- Facebook: @lockarmsforlife
- LinkedIn: @lockarmsforlife
- Youtube: @lockarmsforlife
