{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,29]],"date-time":"2026-10-29T05:59:36Z","timestamp":1793253576536,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"American Medical Association (AMA)","issue":"3","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JAMA Netw Open"],"abstract":"Importance<\/jats:title>Secure firearm storage may help reduce firearm injury and death. Broad implementation requires more granular assessments of firearm storage practices and greater clarity on circumstances that may prevent or promote the use of locking devices.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Objective<\/jats:title>To develop a more thorough understanding of firearm storage practices, obstacles to using locking devices, and circumstances in which firearm owners would consider locking unsecured firearms.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Design, Setting, and Participants<\/jats:title>A cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of adults residing in 5 US states who owned firearms was administered online between July 28 and August 8, 2022. Participants were recruited via probability-based sampling.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Main Outcomes and Measures<\/jats:title>Firearm storage practices were assessed via a matrix provided to participants in which firearm-locking devices were described both via text and images. Locking mechanisms (key\/personal identification number [PIN]\/dial vs biometric) were specified for each type of device. Obstacles to the use of locking devices and circumstances in which firearm owners would consider locking unsecured firearms were assessed via self-report items developed by the study team.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Results<\/jats:title>The final weighted sample included 2152 adult (aged \u226518 years), English-speaking firearm owners residing in the US; the sample was predominantly male (66.7%). Among the 2152 firearm owners, 58.3% (95% CI, 55.9%-60.6%) reported storing at least 1 firearm unlocked and hidden, with 17.9% (95% CI, 16.2%-19.8%) reporting storing at least 1 firearm unlocked and unhidden. Gun safes were the most frequently used device both among participants who use keyed\/PIN\/dial locking mechanisms (32.4%; 95% CI, 30.2%-34.7%) and those who use biometric locking mechanisms (15.6%; 95% CI, 13.9%-17.5%). Those who do not store firearms locked most frequently noted a belief that locks are unnecessary (49.3%; 95% CI, 45.5%-53.1%) and a fear that locks would prevent quick access in an emergency (44.8%; 95% CI, 41.1%-48.7%) as obstacles to lock usage. Preventing access by children was the most often reported circumstance in which firearm owners would consider locking unsecured firearms (48.5%; 95% CI, 45.6%-51.4%).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Conclusions and Relevance<\/jats:title>In this survey study of 2152 firearm owners, consistent with prior research, unsecure firearm storage was common. Firearm owners appeared to prefer gun safes relative to cable locks and trigger locks, indicating that locking device distribution programs may not match firearm owners\u2019 preferences. Broad implementation of secure firearm storage may require addressing disproportionate fears of home intruders and increasing awareness of the risks associated with household firearm access. Furthermore, implementation efforts may hinge on broader awareness of the risks of ready firearm access beyond unauthorized access by children.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2023.1447","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,2]],"date-time":"2023-03-02T17:00:27Z","timestamp":1677776427000},"page":"e231447","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":58,"title":["Assessment of Firearm Storage Practices in the US, 2022"],"prefix":"10.1001","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Michael D.","family":"Anestis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Piscataway"},{"name":"School of Public Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jayna","family":"Moceri-Brooks","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Piscataway"},{"name":"School of Public Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rachel L.","family":"Johnson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Craig J.","family":"Bryan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ian H.","family":"Stanley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora"},{"name":"Center for COMBAT Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jessica T.","family":"Buck-Atkinson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Justin C.","family":"Baker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marian E.","family":"Betz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora"},{"name":"Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora"},{"name":"VA Eastern Colorado Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Denver"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,2]]},"reference":[{"issue":"15","key":"zoi230074r1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1084","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM199310073291506","article-title":"Gun ownership as a risk factor for homicide in the home.","volume":"329","author":"Kellermann","year":"1993","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"issue":"9","key":"zoi230074r2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1227","DOI":"10.1016\/S0277-9536(97)10051-X","article-title":"Firearm suicides and homicides in the United States: regional variations and patterns of gun ownership.","volume":"46","author":"Kaplan","year":"1998","journal-title":"Soc Sci Med"},{"issue":"2","key":"zoi230074r3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1111\/sltb.2018.48.issue-2","article-title":"The association between gun ownership and statewide overall suicide rates.","volume":"48","author":"Anestis","year":"2018","journal-title":"Suicide Life Threat Behav"},{"issue":"10","key":"zoi230074r5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"969","DOI":"10.1176\/appi.ajp.2016.16010069","article-title":"Prevention of firearm suicide in the United States: what works and what is possible.","volume":"173","author":"Mann","year":"2016","journal-title":"Am J Psychiatry"},{"issue":"5","key":"zoi230074r6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2020-0716","article-title":"Safe firearm storage: a call for research informed by firearm stakeholders.","volume":"146","author":"Beidas","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"10","key":"zoi230074r7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"841","DOI":"10.1136\/jech.2003.017343","article-title":"Safer storage of firearms at home and risk of suicide: a study of protective factors in a nationally representative sample.","volume":"58","author":"Shenassa","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Epidemiol Community Health"},{"issue":"7","key":"zoi230074r8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"657","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2019.1078","article-title":"Association of increased safe household firearm storage with firearm suicide and unintentional death among US youths.","volume":"173","author":"Monuteaux","year":"2019","journal-title":"JAMA Pediatr"},{"issue":"4","key":"zoi230074r9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aap.2005.02.003","article-title":"Firearm storage practices and rates of unintentional firearm deaths in the United States.","volume":"37","author":"Miller","year":"2005","journal-title":"Accid Anal Prev"},{"key":"zoi230074r10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"i31","DOI":"10.1136\/injuryprev-2018-043126","article-title":"Firearms training and storage practices among US gun owners: a nationally representative study.","volume":"25","author":"Berrigan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Inj Prev"},{"issue":"3","key":"zoi230074r11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1007\/s11524-018-0261-7","article-title":"Firearm storage in gun-owning households with children: results of a 2015 national survey.","volume":"95","author":"Azrael","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Urban Health"},{"issue":"8","key":"zoi230074r12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2021.19146","article-title":"Firearm practices, perceptions of safety, and opinions on injury prevention strategies among California adults with vs without children.","volume":"4","author":"Pallin","year":"2021","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"zoi230074r13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ypmed.2022.106955","article-title":"Firearm ownership, attitudes, and safe storage practices among a nationally representative sample of older US adults age 50 to 80.","volume":"156","author":"Carter","year":"2022","journal-title":"Prev Med"},{"issue":"4","key":"zoi230074r14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"445","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amepre.2018.04.014","article-title":"Firearm storage practices among American veterans.","volume":"55","author":"Simonetti","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am J Prev Med"},{"key":"zoi230074r15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/13811118.2021.2020698","article-title":"Vehicle firearm storage: prevalence and correlates in a sample of male firearm owners.","volume":"28","author":"Tucker","year":"2021","journal-title":"Arch Suicide Res"},{"issue":"8","key":"zoi230074r16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2019.9160","article-title":"Firearm availability and storage practices among military personnel who have thought about suicide: a cross-sectional study.","volume":"2","author":"Bryan","year":"2019","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"key":"zoi230074r17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2020.113277","article-title":"Suicide risk and firearm ownership and storage behavior in a large military sample.","volume":"291","author":"Anestis","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res"},{"issue":"2","key":"zoi230074r19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amepre.2019.02.024","article-title":"Desirability of personalized guns among current gun owners.","volume":"57","author":"Crifasi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am J Prev Med"},{"key":"zoi230074r20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7326\/M22-3113","article-title":"Firearm owners\u2019 preferences for locking devices: results of a national survey.","author":"Betz","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ann Intern Med"},{"issue":"10","key":"zoi230074r21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2022.35984","article-title":"An evaluation of safe firearm storage messaging in a sample of firearm-owning US military service members.","volume":"5","author":"Anestis","year":"2022","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"issue":"3","key":"zoi230074r22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"537","DOI":"10.1111\/sltb.v52.3","article-title":"Determining subgroups that exist among US firearm owners.","volume":"52","author":"Bond","year":"2022","journal-title":"Suicide Life Threat Behav"},{"key":"zoi230074r23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/10410236.2022.2037199","article-title":"Public perception of gun violence-related headline accuracy and the credibility of media sources.","volume":"15","author":"Bandel","year":"2022","journal-title":"Health Commun"},{"key":"zoi230074r4","unstructured":"Small Arms Survey. Global firearms holdings. March 29, 2020. Accessed November 4, 2022. https:\/\/www.smallarmssurvey.org\/database\/global-firearms-holdings"},{"key":"zoi230074r18","unstructured":"Lumley? T. Survey analysis in R. Accessed November 4, 2022. http:\/\/r-survey.r-forge.r-project.org\/survey\/"}],"container-title":["JAMA Network Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/articlepdf\/2801915\/anestis_2023_oi_230074_1676919610.77683.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,2]],"date-time":"2023-03-02T17:00:31Z","timestamp":1677776431000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2801915"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,2]]},"references-count":23,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2023.1447","relation":{},"ISSN":["2574-3805"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2574-3805","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,2]]}}}