Cafe owners offer safe place for customers to store their guns

LOGAN, Utah — The owners of one Cache Valley business are reaching out to help people in crisis by giving them a safe place to keep their guns.  

Basically, anyone can come in, turn over their guns, and pick them back up once they feel they’re in a better place, mentally and emotionally. 

By offering this, they hope to show at least some people that suicide is never the answer.

Jamie and Mindie Buttars hope to leave their customers at Cache Coffee with something bigger than coffee 

“We don’t have customers, we have family,” said Jamie.

A community that has, in many ways, built around their respect for veterans and law enforcement.

“This is a chemical test kit from 1954,” Jamie pointed out. 

Many of those veterans have brought in their own tokens to put on display at the cafe.

That includes one that can be tough to talk about. 

“We had a friend who took his own life and he actually brought us that flag,” said Jaime. 

Someone they wish would have asked for help.

“It was kind of crazy,” he recalled. “It was pretty scary. I went and looked for him until almost four in the morning.” 

It’s why they’re now encouraging others who might feel alone to speak up. 

“It’s available for anyone who comes through the doors,” said Mindie Buttars.

A gun safe, which was donated through the help of a couple of other area businesses.

“Just whatever they say,” said Jamie. “Until they feel comfortable, we’ll hold on to them.”

The offer is already getting through to some people.

“Everybody, I think, has probably had those feelings or thoughts at least once in their life,” said Mindie. “It doesn’t mean anything, it just means you need help.” 

People can already do this at their local police station, but the Buttars said offering the help here can make the prospect less intimidating.

They’re hopeful it will encourage more people to open up.

“Yep, ask for help,” Mindie said.

“Because a friend would rather take hours out of their life and see you the next day, instead of just,” Jamie said.  

“Never see you again,” Mindie finished. 

The Buttars said they’re also building a coalition to help for helping veterans and the homeless in the area. 

They already organize a Thanksgiving dinner for those in need each year.