Firearm Owner Identities and Storage Practices: Responsible Owners or Responsible Actions?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Injury Prevention
• Social Science

Background:

• Many firearm owners self-identify as responsible.
• A significant portion of owners do not follow public health guidelines for secure firearm storage (locked, unloaded, separate from ammunition).
• This indicates a potential discrepancy in the definition of responsible firearm ownership between owners and health professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors associated with firearm owners identifying as responsible.
• To examine if owners with a "responsible" identity utilize secure firearm storage methods.
• To understand the disconnect in responsible firearm ownership definitions.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online survey was conducted in February 2023.
• The study included 1,161 U.S. adults, with analyses focused on 380 current firearm owners.
• Statistical analyses explored correlations between responsible identity and firearm storage practices.

Main Results:

• 45% of owners strongly agreed that gun ownership enhances their sense of responsibility.
• Viewing guns as essential/important and owning for protection were linked to responsible identities.
• Owners feeling responsible were more likely to store firearms locked (59% vs. 45%), but not more likely to store them unloaded.

Conclusions:

• Firearm owners identifying as responsible may not fully adhere to the "triple secure" storage method (locked, unloaded, separate from ammunition).
• Messaging and screening for safe firearm storage could be more effective by acknowledging broader meanings of responsibility beyond just secure storage.
• Addressing owners' perceptions of responsibility is crucial for improving safe firearm storage practices.