Skip to main content
Log in

Firearm Storage in Gun-Owning Households with Children: Results of a 2015 National Survey

  • Published:
Journal of Urban Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Data from a nationally representative probability-based online survey sample of US adults conducted in 2015 (n = 3949, response rate 55%) were used to assess self-reported gun storage practices among gun owners with children. The presence of firearms and children in the home, along with other household and individual level characteristics, was ascertained from all respondents. Questions pertaining to household firearms (how guns are stored, number, type, etc.) were asked only of those respondents who reported that they personally owned a gun. We found that approximately one in three US households contains at least one firearm, regardless of whether children lived in the home (0.34 [0.29–0.39]) or not (0.35 [0.32–0.38]). Among gun-owning households with children, approximately two in ten gun owners store at least one gun in the least safe manner, i.e., loaded and unlocked (0.21 [0.17–0.26]); three in ten store all guns in the safest manner, i.e., unloaded and locked (0.29, [0.24–0.34]; and the remaining half (0.50 [0.45–0.55]) store firearms in some other way. Although firearm storage practices do not appear to vary across some demographic characteristics, including age, sex, and race, gun owners are more likely to store at least one gun loaded and unlocked if they are female (0.31 [0.23–0.41]) vs. male (0.17 [0.13–0.22]); own at least one handgun (0.27 [0.22–0.32] vs. no handguns (0.05 [0.02–0.15]); or own firearms for protection (0.29 [0.24–0.35]) vs. do not own for protection (0.03 [0.01–0.08]). Approximately 7% of US children (4.6 million) live in homes in which at least one firearm is stored loaded and unlocked, an estimate that is more than twice as high as estimates reported in 2002, the last time a nationally representative survey assessed this outcome. To the extent that the high prevalence of children exposed to unsafe storage that we observe reflects a secular change in public opinion towards the belief that having a gun in the home makes the home safer, rather than less safe, interventions that aim to make homes safer for children should address this misconception. Guidance alone, such as that offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics, has fallen short. Our findings underscore the need for more active and creative efforts to reduce children’s exposure to unsafely stored firearms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centers for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]. (2005) {cited 2018 Mar 15}. Available from: www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars.

  2. Hemenway D, Solnick SJ. Children and unintentional firearm death. Inj Epidemiol. 2015;2(1):26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-015-0057-0.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D. Firearms and violent death in the United States. In: Webster DW, Vernick J, editors. Reducing Gun Violence in America: informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press.

  4. Grossman DC, Reay DT, Baker SA. Self-inflicted and unintentional firearm injuries among children and adolescents: the source of the firearm. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153(8):875–8. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.153.8.875.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Miller M, Hemenway D. The relationship between firearms and suicide: a review of the literature. Aggress Violent Behav. 1999;4(1):59–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-1789(97)00057-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Brent DA. Firearms and suicide. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001;932:225–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb05808.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Anglemyer A, Horvath T, Rutherford G. The accessibility of firearms and risk for suicide and homicide victimization among household members: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160(2):101-110. https://doi.org/10.7326/M13-1301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kellermann AL, Rivara FP, Somes G, Reay DT, Francisco J, Banton JG, et al. Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership. N Engl J Med. 1992;327(7):467–72. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199208133270705.

  9. Brent DA, Perper J, Moritz G, Baugher M, Allman C. Suicide in adolescents with no apparent psychopathology. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1993;32(3):494–500. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199305000-00002.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Brent DA, Perper JA, Allman CJ, Moritz GM, Wartella ME, Zelenak JP. The presence and accessibility of firearms in the homes of adolescent suicides. A case-control study. JAMA. 1991;266(21):2989–95. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1991.03470210057032.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Brent DA, Perper JA, Moritz G, Baugher M, Schweers J, Roth C. Firearms and adolescent suicide. A community case-control study. Am J Dis Child. 1993;147(10):1066–71. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1993.02160340052013.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Conwell Y, Duberstein PR, Connor K, Eberly S, Cox C, Caine ED. Access to firearms and risk for suicide in middle-aged and older adults. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2002;10(4):407–16. https://doi.org/10.1097/00019442-200207000-00007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Bailey JE, Kellermann AL, Somes GW, Banton JG, Rivara FP, Rushforth NP. Risk factors for violent death of women in the home. Arch Intern Med. 1997;157(7):777–82. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.157.7.777.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wiebe DJ. Homicide and suicide risks associated with firearms in the home: a national case-control study. Ann Emerg Med. 2003;41(6):771–82. https://doi.org/10.1067/mem.2003.187.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Wintemute GJ, Parham CA, Beaumont JJ, Wright M, Drake C. Mortality among recent purchasers of handguns. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(21):1583–9. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199911183412106.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Dahlberg LL, Ikeda RM, Kresnow M-J. Guns in the home and risk of a violent death in the home: findings from a national study. Am J Epidemiol. 2004;160(10):929–36. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwh309.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D. Firearm availability and unintentional firearm deaths, suicide, and homicide among 5–14 year olds. J Trauma. 2002;52(2):265–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005373-200202000-00011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D, Vriniotis M. Firearm storage practices and rates of unintentional firearm deaths in the United States. Accid Anal Prev. 2005;37(4):661–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2005.02.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Conner A, Azrael D, Miller M. Public opinion about the relationship between firearm availability and suicide: results from a national survey. Ann Intern Med. 2018;168(2):153–5. https://doi.org/10.7326/M17-2348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Grossman DC, Mueller BA, Riedy C, Dowd MD, Villaveces A, Prodzinski J, et al. Gun storage practices and risk of youth suicide and unintentional firearm injuries. JAMA. 2005;293(6):707–14. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.293.6.707.

  21. Dowd MD, Sege R, Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention Executive Committee; American Academy of Pediatrics. Firearm-related injuries affecting the pediatric population. Pediatrics. 2012;130(5):e1416–23. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-2481.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Schuster MA, Franke TM, Bastian AM, Sor S, Halfon N. Firearm storage patterns in US homes with children. Am J Public Health. 2000;90(4):588–94. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.90.4.588.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Stennies G, Ikeda R, Leadbetter S, Houston B, Sacks J. Firearm storage practices and children in the home, United States, 1994. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153(6):586–90. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.153.6.586.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Okoro CA, Nelson DE, Mercy JA, Balluz LS, Crosby AE, Mokdad AH. Prevalence of household firearms and firearm-storage practices in the 50 states and the District of Columbia: findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002. Pediatrics. 2005;116(3):e370–6. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-0300.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Smith TW, Son J. Trends in gun ownership, 1972–2014. Chicago, IL; 2015. http://www.norc.org/PDFs/GSS Reports/GSS_TrendsinGunOwnership_US_1972–2014.pdf. Accessed 2 March 2018

  26. Azrael D, Hepburn L, Hemenway D, Miller M. The stock and flow of US firearms: results from the 2015 National Firearms Survey. RSF Russell Sage Found J Soc Sci. 2017;3(5):38–57. https://doi.org/10.7758/rsf.2017.3.5.02.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Weil DS, Hemenway D. Loaded guns in the home. Analysis of a national random survey of gun owners. JAMA. 1992;267(22):3033–7. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.267.22.3033.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Crifasi CK, Doucette ML, McGinty EE, Webster DW, Barry CL. Storage practices of US gun owners in 2016. Am J Public Health. 2018;108(4):532–7. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2017.304262.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. McCarthy J. More than six in 10 Americans say guns make homes safer. Gallup. http://news.gallup.com/poll/179213/six-americans-say-guns-homes-safer.aspx. Published 2014. Accessed March 15, 2018.

  30. Miller M, Hepburn L, Azrael D. Firearm acquisition without background checks: results of a national survey. Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(4):233–9. https://doi.org/10.7326/M16-1590.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Callegaro M, Disogra C. Computing response metrics for online panels. Public Opin Q. 2008;72(5):1008–32. https://doi.org/10.1093/poq/nfn065.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. von Elm E, Altman D, Egger M, Pocock S, Gotzche P, Vandenbroucke J, et al. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147:573–7. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-147-8-200710160-00010.

  33. US Census. https://www.census.gov/data.html. Accessed March 15, 2018.

  34. Johnson RM, Coyne-Beasley T, Runyan CW. Firearm ownership and storage practices, US households, 1992–2002. A systematic review. Am J Prev Med. 2004;27(2):173–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2004.04.015.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Hemenway D, Solnick SJ, Azrael DR. Firearm training and storage. JAMA. 1995;273(1):46–50. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1995.03520250062035.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Johnson RM, Miller M, Vriniotis M, Azrael D, Hemenway D. Are household firearms stored less safely in homes with adolescents?: analysis of a national random sample of parents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160(8):788–92. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.160.8.788.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Ludwig J, Cook PJ, Smith TW. The gender gap in reporting household gun ownership. Am J Public Health. 1998;88(11):1715–8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.88.11.1715.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Azrael D, Miller M, Hemenway D. Are household firearms stored safely? It depends on whom you ask. Pediatrics. 2000;106(3):E31. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.106.3.e31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Powell KE, Jacklin BC, Nelson DE, Bland S. State estimates of household exposure to firearms, loaded firearms, and handguns, 1991 through 1995. Am J Public Health. 1998;88(6):969–72. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.88.6.969.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Simonetti J, Azrael D, Rowhani-Rahbar A, Miller M. Firearm storage practices and risk perceptions among a nationally representative of US Veterans with and without self harm risk factors. SLTB. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12463https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12463

  41. Marsden P, Wright J. In: 2nd, editor. Handbook of survey research. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Kreuter F, Presser S, Tourangeau R. Social desirability bias in CATI, IVR, and Web Surveys: the effects of mode and question sensitivity. Public Opin Q. 2008;72(5):847–65. https://doi.org/10.1093/poq/nfn063.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Chang L, Krosnick J. National surveys via RDD telephone interviewing versus the internet: comparing sample representativeness and response quality. Public Opin Q. 2009;73(4):641–78. https://doi.org/10.1093/poq/nfp075.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Kellermann AL, Rivara FP, Banton J, Reay D, Fligner CL. Validating survey responses to questions about gun ownership among owners of registered handguns. Am J Epidemiol. 1990;131(6):1080–4. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a115600.

  45. Rafferty AP, Thrush JC, Smith PK, McGee HB. Validity of a household gun question in a telephone survey. Public Health Rep. 1995;110(3):282–8.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Betz ME, Barber C, Miller M. Suicidal behavior and firearm access: results from the second injury control and risk survey. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2011;41(4):384–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1943-278X.2011.00036.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

New Venture Fund fund for a Safer Future GA004695. The authors would like to thank Joseph Wertz and Andrew Conner for their contributions to the authors’ early thinking about this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deborah Azrael.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Table 3 Characteristics of gun owners with children who store firearms loaded and unlocked

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Azrael, D., Cohen, J., Salhi, C. et al. Firearm Storage in Gun-Owning Households with Children: Results of a 2015 National Survey. J Urban Health 95, 295–304 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-018-0261-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-018-0261-7

Keywords

Navigation