Household Firearm Storage Practices

Secure firearm storage is a key strategy for firearm injury prevention. Understanding trends in firearm storage behaviors over time is critical for developing tailored interventions.

To characterize trends in household firearm storage from 2013 to 2022 in Washington State and to assess time-varying associations between demographic groups and secure storage.

This survey study with repeated cross-sectional measures used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a state-based survey of adults (aged ≥18 years) living in Washington State that was conducted by telephone and included questions regarding firearm storage in the 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, or 2022 cycles. Data were analyzed from August 2024 through April 2025.

Demographic variables including sex, age, rurality (urban vs small town or rural), veteran status, and the presence of children in the home.

The primary outcome was the percentage of adults who reported secure firearm storage (all household firearms stored unloaded and locked). Logistic regression models that included each of the selected demographic variables, year, and interactions between them were used to estimate time-varying associations, with weighted percentages used to account for complex survey design and to be representative of the adult population of Washington State.

A total of 77 275 survey respondents (mean [SD] age, 46.7 [18.9] years) in Washington State were included in the analysis. Of these, 51.7% (95% CI, 51.2%-52.1%) were female. The percentage of adults reporting household firearm presence was 35.7% (95% CI, 34.4%-37.0%) in 2013 and 33.3% (95% CI, 32.5%-34.1%) in 2022. Among households with firearms (n = 27 721), secure storage was reported among 34.9% (95% CI, 32.8%-37.1%) in 2013 and 48.8% (95% CI, 47.2%-50.3%) in 2022. The odds of secure storage significantly increased per year overall (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06-1.08), and among nearly all subgroups: males (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.07-1.10), females (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.08), veterans (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.07-1.10), nonveterans (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.05-1.08), those with children (1.08; 95% CI, 1.06-1.10), and those without (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06-1.08). The odds increased in urban areas (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.05-1.08) and suburban areas or large towns (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05-1.10) but not in small towns or rural areas (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.97-1.06).

In this survey study of Washington State adults, the percentage of adults reporting secure storage of household firearms increased from 2013 to 2022, but differences persisted across demographic groups. These findings underscore the need for more tailored interventions to address these disparities.