Gun storage patterns in US homes with children. A pediatric practice-based survey. Pediatric Practice Research Group.
OBJECTIVE
To describe gun storage patterns in gun-owning families with children.


METHODS
Survey of parents attending participating offices.


METHODS
Twenty-nine urban, suburban, and rural pediatric practices in Chicago, Ill; New Jersey; Houston, Tex; Utah; Georgia; Iowa; and South Carolina.


METHODS
Parents of children attending offices for well- or sick-child care.


METHODS
Consecutive sample of families seen during the 1-week study period. MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYSES: Logistic regression models were constructed to identify sociodemographic factors associated with keeping guns loaded.


RESULTS
Of 5233 surveys, 1682 (32%) indicated ownership of at least one powder firearm. Of the gun-owning families, 61% reported at least one gun unlocked, and 15% reported at least one gun loaded. Rifles were more often stored unlocked (62% rifles vs 52% handguns, P<.001, z=4.60; two-proportion z-test), but handguns were more likely to be kept loaded (3% rifles vs 27% handguns, P<.001). Seven percent of gun-owning families reported at least one gun unlocked and loaded (handguns 12 times more likely than rifles). Only 30% of households reported all guns stored unloaded and locked up. The best-fit logistic regression model for keeping a gun loaded identified four predictor variables: owning a gun for self-protection, work-related gun ownership, owning a handgun, and no men in the home.


CONCLUSIONS
Because most gun-owning families store guns loaded, unlocked, or both, anticipatory guidance should address gun storage in all such families. Interventions designed to alter the way work guns are dealt with after work, and to provide safe and effective means of self-protection might affect these storage patterns.
Senturia
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YD
Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill, USA.
Christoffel
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Donovan
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D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013383:Suburban Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000517:prevention & control