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Firearm Storage in Households With Children
Matthew Miller1,2, Samuel Fischer2, Eliot Nelson3
1Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
JAMA Network Open
|May 12, 2026
Summary
More than 1 in 5 US households with children store firearms loaded and unlocked, increasing risk. This unsafe firearm storage is more common when teenagers are present, highlighting the need for better safety practices.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
- Sociology
Background:
- Children in homes with firearms face significantly higher risks of suicide and unintentional firearm injuries.
- Safe firearm storage, including unloading and locking guns, can mitigate these risks.
- Understanding current firearm storage practices in homes with children is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess firearm storage practices in US households with children.
- To determine the prevalence of loaded and unlocked firearms in these homes.
- To analyze storage practices based on the age of children in the household.
Main Methods:
- A nationally representative probability-based survey was conducted in December 2024.
- Participants included 879 firearm owners residing with children under 18.
- Survey weights were used to ensure representative estimates of firearm storage practices.
Main Results:
- An estimated 21.1% of surveyed firearm owners reported at least one loaded and unlocked firearm.
- This unsafe storage practice was more prevalent in households with only teenage children (13-17 years).
- Approximately 6.7 million children in the US live in households with at least one loaded and unlocked firearm.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of US households with children store firearms in a manner that increases risk.
- Unsafe firearm storage is more common when teenagers are present, necessitating tailored interventions.
- More effective strategies are needed to encourage firearm owners to secure firearms, making them inaccessible to all children.
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