Rates and characteristics of firearm access rules among U.S. parents of high-school age teens

Firearm access is a risk factor for U.S. teen firearm injuries. We explore parental firearm rules for teens to inform prevention strategies.

Nationally representative web-based survey (6/2020-7/2020) among U.S. parents of teens (ages 14-18; N = 2727) to estimate what proportion of parents maintain rules for teens, characterize these rules, and examine factors associated with having rules. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Overall, 17.6% of parents never discussed firearm rules with their teen. For those with rules, 48.2% prohibited access, 42.8% allowed supervised access, and 8.9% allowed unsupervised access. Multivariable regression showed establishing rules was less likely among male parents (AOR = 0.63) and more likely among those reporting higher parental monitoring (AOR = 1.99), household firearm ownership (AOR = 3.99), and teen safety training (AOR = 4.40). Ordinal regression identified parents with permissive access rules were more likely male (AOR = 1.56), non-Hispanic White (AOR = 1.58), with teens that received safety training (AOR = 10.22); while parents of younger children (ages <10; AOR = 0.66) and reporting greater parental monitoring (AOR = 0.58) were less likely to have permissive rules.

Nearly 20% of U.S. parents lack firearm rules for teens. Among those with rules, many parents allow unsupervised access. Interventions should engage both firearm-owning and non-owning families to prevent teen firearm injuries.