Firearm Owners' Preferences for Locking Devices: Results of a National Survey

Betz, Marian E.; Stanley, Ian H.; Buck-Atkinson, Jessica; Johnson, Rachel L.; Bryan, Craig J.; Baker, Justin C.; Bryan, AnnaBelle O.; Hunter, Kyleanne; Anestis, Michael D.

doi:10.7326/m22-3113

Cited by 15 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The more frequent endorsement of gun safes as a storage option also highlights that some of the storage devices most typically dispensed by clinicians and other stakeholders (eg, cable locks) may be less desired by firearm owners and less likely to prompt secure storage behaviors. Recent research has highlighted that firearm owners may prefer a coupon for a discounted gun safe rather than a free cable lock …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Our results showed that most American Indian or Alaska Native and Black respondents stored their personally owned firearms in a locked location, but mixed practices on storing firearms loaded and/or using a locking device reveal ample avenues for continued education and programming on firearm locking devices. For instance, recent research suggests that many firearm owners do not prefer to use cable locks and might instead prefer biometric gun safes or in-vehicle lockboxes . Our findings on the extent of different types of firearm violence exposure underscore the need for trauma-informed modules embedded within firearm safety and secure storage programs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Firearm Access and Gun Violence Exposure Among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black Adults

Anestis,

Moceri-Brooks,

Ziminski

et al. 2024

JAMA Netw Open

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ImportanceAmerican Indian or Alaska Native and Black adults experience elevated rates of firearm injury and death, but both groups are severely underrepresented in research on firearm exposure and behaviors.ObjectiveTo explore geodemographic differences in firearm behaviors and violence exposure among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black adults in the US.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this survey study, nationally representative samples of American Indian or Alaska Native and/or Black adults recruited from KnowledgePanel were surveyed cross-sectionally. Surveys were administered online between April 12 and May 4, 2023.Main Outcomes and MeasuresFirearm access, storage, and carrying behaviors and lifetime firearm violence exposure were the primary outcomes. Demographic factors such as age, geographic location, and political affiliation were considered. Data were weighted to geodemographic distributions from the US Census Bureau’s 2022 Current Population Survey.ResultsOf 3542 participants, 527 (14.9%) were American Indian or Alaska Native (280 [53.1%] female) and 3015 (85.1%) were Black (1646 [54.6%] female). Both groups exhibited high firearm access rates (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 238 [45.4%; 95% CI, 39.4%-51.7%]; Black adults: 909 [30.4%; 95% CI, 28.0%-32.9%]), predominantly owning handguns for home protection. The groups demonstrated similar firearm storage patterns, and a substantial proportion endorsed always or almost always carrying firearms outside the home (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 18.9%; Black adults: 15.2%). Self-protection was a common reason for carrying a firearm (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 104 [84.9%; 95% CI, 74.1%-91.7%]; Black adults: 350 [88.3%; 95% CI, 82.3%-92.4%]), and a minority of participants cited lack of faith in the police (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 19 [15.2%; 95% CI, 8.2%-26.7%]; Black adults: 61 [15.4%; 95% CI, 10.3%-21.2%]), indicating potential shifts in public safety dynamics.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this survey study of American Indian or Alaska Native and Black US adults, a substantial percentage of both groups reported living in homes with firearms, storing firearms loaded and unlocked, frequently carrying firearms outside the home, and having been exposed directly and indirectly to gun violence. These findings underscore the need for nuanced public health campaigns and policies and highlight challenges for law enforcement in contexts of racial disparities and changing legal frameworks.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Firearm Access and Gun Violence Exposure Among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black Adults

Anestis,

Moceri-Brooks,

Ziminski

et al. 2024

JAMA Netw Open

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“…This highlights that simply providing locking devices does not ensure use. Furthermore, this emphasizes that building distribution strategies around approaches that do not heavily weight storage preferences will likely result in limited increases in secure firearm storage …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, this emphasizes that building distribution strategies around approaches that do not heavily weight storage preferences will likely result in limited increases in secure firearm storage. 20 Individuals frequently reported preventing access by children as a reason for current storage approaches and as a motivation for considering locking currently unlocked firearms. This may indicate firearm owners perceive risks associated with child access as outweighing the risk of potential home invasion.…”

Section: Jama Network Open | Public Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Firearm Storage Practices in the US, 2022

et al. 2023

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ImportanceSecure firearm storage may help reduce firearm injury and death. Broad implementation requires more granular assessments of firearm storage practices and greater clarity on circumstances that may prevent or promote the use of locking devices.ObjectiveTo develop a more thorough understanding of firearm storage practices, obstacles to using locking devices, and circumstances in which firearm owners would consider locking unsecured firearms.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of adults residing in 5 US states who owned firearms was administered online between July 28 and August 8, 2022. Participants were recruited via probability-based sampling.Main Outcomes and MeasuresFirearm storage practices were assessed via a matrix provided to participants in which firearm-locking devices were described both via text and images. Locking mechanisms (key/personal identification number [PIN]/dial vs biometric) were specified for each type of device. Obstacles to the use of locking devices and circumstances in which firearm owners would consider locking unsecured firearms were assessed via self-report items developed by the study team.ResultsThe final weighted sample included 2152 adult (aged ≥18 years), English-speaking firearm owners residing in the US; the sample was predominantly male (66.7%). Among the 2152 firearm owners, 58.3% (95% CI, 55.9%-60.6%) reported storing at least 1 firearm unlocked and hidden, with 17.9% (95% CI, 16.2%-19.8%) reporting storing at least 1 firearm unlocked and unhidden. Gun safes were the most frequently used device both among participants who use keyed/PIN/dial locking mechanisms (32.4%; 95% CI, 30.2%-34.7%) and those who use biometric locking mechanisms (15.6%; 95% CI, 13.9%-17.5%). Those who do not store firearms locked most frequently noted a belief that locks are unnecessary (49.3%; 95% CI, 45.5%-53.1%) and a fear that locks would prevent quick access in an emergency (44.8%; 95% CI, 41.1%-48.7%) as obstacles to lock usage. Preventing access by children was the most often reported circumstance in which firearm owners would consider locking unsecured firearms (48.5%; 95% CI, 45.6%-51.4%).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this survey study of 2152 firearm owners, consistent with prior research, unsecure firearm storage was common. Firearm owners appeared to prefer gun safes relative to cable locks and trigger locks, indicating that locking device distribution programs may not match firearm owners’ preferences. Broad implementation of secure firearm storage may require addressing disproportionate fears of home intruders and increasing awareness of the risks associated with household firearm access. Furthermore, implementation efforts may hinge on broader awareness of the risks of ready firearm access beyond unauthorized access by children.

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“…This broad assessment also does not capture the nuances of firearm storage practices (e.g., cable locks vs. biometric safes). As work in this area expands, it will be important for a standardized, nuanced, and comprehensive approach to the assessment of storage practices (Anestis et al, 2023; Betz et al, 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Firearm ownership and storage practices among United States firefighters and emergency medical services personnel.

Stanley¹,

Lebeaut²,

Betz³

et al. 2024

Psychological Services

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Compared with the general U.S. population, firefighters (FF) and emergency medical services (EMS) workers (FF + EMS personnel) are at increased risk for firearm suicide. Although secure firearm storage is associated with reduced risk of firearm suicide, no study has examined the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of firearm ownership and storage practices among U.S. FF + EMS personnel. A total of 141 U.S. FF + EMS personnel completed a structured, web-based self-report questionnaire. Overall, 76.6% (n = 108) of FF + EMS personnel in our sample reported owning a personal firearm, among whom 85.2% (n = 92) reported owning more than one firearm. Among firearm owners, 42.6% (n = 46) reported secure firearm storage (i.e., unloaded and locked) and 57.4% (n = 62) reported nonsecure firearm storage (i.e., loaded and/or unlocked). FF + EMS personnel who cited personal safety as the only reason for firearm ownership, as opposed to reporting other or multiple reasons for ownership (e.g., hunting), were at increased odds of reporting nonsecure storage practices (69.4% vs. 47.5%; OR = 2.51, 95% CI [1.14, 5.55], p = .023). Most FF + EMS personnel in our sample reported firearm ownership, and approximately half of the firearm owners reported nonsecure firearm storage practices. Promoting secure firearm storage practices among FF + EMS personnel might decrease risk of firearm suicide and other forms of firearm-related injuries. Impact StatementA nontrivial proportion of firefighters and emergency medical services personnel own firearms and report nonsecure firearm storage practices, which might increase their risk for firearm-related injuries, including suicide. Efforts to promote secure firearm storage in these populations might decrease risk for firearm-related injuries.

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Firearm Owners' Preferences for Locking Devices: Results of a National Survey

Cited by 15 publications

References 5 publications

Firearm Access and Gun Violence Exposure Among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black Adults

Firearm Access and Gun Violence Exposure Among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black Adults

Assessment of Firearm Storage Practices in the US, 2022

Firearm ownership and storage practices among United States firefighters and emergency medical services personnel.

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