Storage of household firearms: an examination of the attitudes and beliefs of married women with children

Abstract

Although safe firearm storage is a promising injury prevention strategy, many parents do not keep their firearms unloaded and locked up. Using the theory of planned behavior as a guiding conceptual framework, this study examines factors associated with safe storage among married women with children and who have firearms in their homes. Data come from a national telephone survey (n=185). We examined beliefs about defensive firearm use, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and firearm storage practices. A Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was conducted to assess associations between psychosocial factors and firearm storage practices. Women were highly motivated to keep firearms stored safely. Those reporting safe storage practices had more favorable attitudes, more supportive subjective norms and higher perceptions of behavioral control than those without safe storage. One-fourth believed a firearm would prevent a family member from being hurt in case of a break-in, 58% believed a firearm could scare off a burglar. Some 63% said they leave decisions about firearm storage to their husbands. Women were highly motivated to store firearms safely as evidenced by favorable attitudes, supportive subjective norms and high perceptions of behavioral control. This was especially true for those reporting safer storage practices.

Why Do You Keep Them There? A Qualitative Assessment of Firearms Storage Practices

“…Such results are encouraging because, while not all firearms within each reporting household may have been locked or unloaded, participants were at least indicating awareness that storage methods are needed and are being used for some of their firearms. Overall, our results appeared consistent with previous research that a portion of households containing firearms can be expected to contain some that are loaded and unlocked (e.g., Schuster, 2000), that there are significant variations in storage practices , and that a large portion of households can be expected to contain at least some firearms secured in a safe manner (e.g., Johnson et al, 2008).…”

“…One study reported that a large portion of households appear to store firearms unloaded (63%) and ammunition was stored separately (69%), but nearly half did not store firearms in a locked fashion, and some (18%) stored a firearm unlocked and loaded (Coyne-Beasley, Schoenbach, & Johnson, 2001). In a more recent study, 93% of participants reported that the firearm in question during an interview was stored locked and unloaded (Johnson, Runyan, Coyne-Beasley, Lewis, & Bowling, 2008). Thus, safe storage practices are used in some homes, but the overall pattern of storage practices varies considerably across households.…”

“…An overwhelming number of males (83%) reported that they owned the firearms that were kept in the home versus only 17% of women. Another study focusing specifically on women living in homes that contain firearms found participants to be highly-motivated to store firearms safely; a finding linked to perception of greater behavioral control (Johnson et al, 2008). Overall, disparities exist in terms of which sex is associated with being primarily responsible for storage of firearms in the home and with respect to the presence and condition of firearms being stored.…”

“…Locking a firearm kept for home defense can be counterproductive if the firearm is not quickly accessible . Indeed, at least one study has reported that increased perception of a firearm's utility for home defense was associated with a less-favorable attitude toward storing the firearm locked (Johnson et al, 2008). Thus, the reasons underlying variations in storage practices are important to consider, as such reasons may result in conflict between storage practices and child safety.…”

“…We may reasonably suspect an individual who owns only one firearm, or perhaps several firearms all for a similar purpose (e.g., hunting rifles), might keep the firearms stored in one place in a similar manner. However, if some firearms are kept for self-defense while some are for other purposes, individuals may be reluctant to use restrictive storage practices (Johnson et al, 2008). Indeed, choosing to store a firearm in a state of readiness for self-defense when children are present in the household is a decision that must be made by an adult, and one that requires benefits and consequences to be weighed.…”