Rural population survey of behavioral and demographic risk factors for loaded firearms

Abstract

Objectives-In the United States, firearm deaths are almost as frequent as motor vehicle deaths. Firearm unintentional and suicide death rates are raised in rural areas. This study examines firearm prevalence and storage practices in three diVerent types of rural households. Methods-Adults from a stratified random sample of 983 households in a rural Iowa county were interviewed. The 2 test of independence was used to assess association between loaded, unlocked firearms and seven behavioral and demographic risk factors. Results-Nearly 67% of respondents reported firearms in their households. Nearly 7% of households had a loaded, unlocked gun. Prevalence of firearms at home was higher while prevalence of loaded, unlocked guns was lower than reported in other surveys. Prevalence of loaded, unlocked guns in farm households, 10.5%, was about twice the level in town households, 5.5% ( 2 test, p=0.033). Having taken a gun safety course was associated with more than double the prevalence of a loaded, unlocked gun, 13.5% v 5.1% ( 2 test, p=0.001). The prevalence of loaded, unlocked guns in households with a handgun, 19.3%, was four and one half times higher than in households with a long gun only, 4.2% ( 2 test, p=0.001). Households with someone with a lifetime prevalence of alcohol abuse or dependence were about twice as likely as other households, 13.0% v 6.6% ( 2 test, p=0.004), to report having loaded, unlocked firearms. Conclusions-Anyone interested in promoting safe storage of firearms in rural homes should consider these observations. (Injury Prevention 2001;7:112-116)

The Association Between Presence of Children in the Home and Firearm-Ownership and -Storage Practices

“…Only 20% of 82 respondents with children who had firearms reported storing all guns locked or locked up; this number is lower than some estimates based on other studies of firearm ownership in homes with children but are in keeping with wide geographic variation in rates of ownership and safe storage. 13,14,16,17,23,24,29 An even smaller percentage (6%) stored guns in the manner that best minimizes pediatric exposure: unloaded, locked or locked up, and separate from ammunition. Although only 1 of 117 respondents with firearms in their homes specifically reported storing at least 1 firearm loaded and unlocked, storing unlocked firearms unloaded but together with ammunition is essentially no different from storing firearms loaded and unlocked.…”

“…[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] However, research has documented significant regional differences in firearm-ownership rates, with rural households being more likely to have guns than urban households and residents of southern states having higher gun-ownership rates than those from other parts of the country. 13,[21][22][23][24] The majority of both intentional and unintentional firearm fatalities and injuries result from handgun use. [25][26][27][28] Although gun ownership is highest in rural households, rural gun owners are more likely to report owning long guns for hunting and recreational purposes, rather than handguns, which are generally kept for self-protection or home defense.…”

“…[25][26][27][28] Although gun ownership is highest in rural households, rural gun owners are more likely to report owning long guns for hunting and recreational purposes, rather than handguns, which are generally kept for self-protection or home defense. 22,24 Although intentional firearm mortality and morbidity is highest in poor, inner-city areas, low-income urban minorities have the lowest reported rates of gun ownership. 17,22 Surveys generally find that only half of individuals who have firearms in their homes report making an effort to make guns inaccessible by securing them with trigger locks or storing them in locked safes, drawers, or cabinets.…”

“…[31][32][33] Likewise, previous gun-safety training for adults does not seem to have a positive correlation with likelihood of safe storage of firearms: a study of gun owners in 1 rural midwestern area found that respondents who had taken a firearmsafety course were twice as likely to keep guns loaded and unlocked as those who had not received such education. 24 Given the prevalence of firearms in American homes with children and the dangers of giving children ready access to firearms, understanding the factors that influence storage decisions is a critical part of preventing pediatric firearm injuries. Studies of gun ownership and storage in homes with children have generally focused on the subset of households with children rather than examining differences in homes with and without children.…”

Evaluation of a Community-Based Handgun Safe-Storage Campaign

“…[24][25][26][27] Approximately half of homes with guns and children have a handgun present. 25 Firearm ownership is not consistently associated with the presence or absence of children in the household, 25,[28][29][30][31][32] but households with children generally follow safer storage practices. 24,25,29,[31][32][33][34][35] Even so, ϳ6% to 14% of households with children and firearms report storing at least 1 gun both unlocked and loaded.…”