title: Why do you keep them there? A qualitative assessment of firearms storage practices.
abstract: Thousands of children are killed or injured each year in the United States after gaining access to firearms. Storage methods are inconsistent and influenced by various contextual factors in the home. We explored reasons underlying parents' choices of firearm storage. Thirty individuals were interviewed regarding firearm storage methods used in their homes and reasons for choosing those methods. Storage practices varied within and across households. Qualitative results suggested that storage practices were related to child presence and age, intended use of firearms, and perception of risk associated with potential access by unsafe individuals. Implications for injury prevention are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Idaho. Electronic address: barton@uidaho.edu.
authors.forename: Benjamin K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: University of Idaho.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kologi
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Child safety; Firearms; Firearms storage; Parents; Unintentional injury