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Gun Storage Patterns in US Homes With Children: A Pediatric Practice-Based Survey

Gun Storage Patterns in US Homes With Children: A Pediatric Practice-Based Survey Abstract Objective: To describe gun storage patterns in gun-owning families with children. Design: Survey of parents attending participating of fices. Setting: Twenty-nine urban, suburban, and rural pediatric practices in Chicago, Ill; New Jersey; Houston, Tex; Utah; Georgia; Iowa; and South Carolina. Subjects: Parents of children attending offices for well-or sick-child care. Selection Procedure: 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.(Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1996;150:265-269) References 1. Fingerhut LA. Firearm Deaths and Death Rates, United States, 1992: National Vital Statistics System . Hyattsville, Md: National Center for Health Statistics: 1995. 2. Alviani JD, Drake WR. Karlin MD. Handgun Control: Issues and Alternatives, 1983 ed . Washington, DC: US Conference of Mayors; 1983. 3. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. AFT News . Washington, DC: Dept of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobbaco, and Firearms: (May 22) , 1991. Dept of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms publication FY-91-36. 4. Harris L. A Survey of the American People on Guns as a Children's Health Issue . Cambridge, Mass: Harvard School of Public Health, LH Research Inc; 1993. 5. Wintemute GJ, Teret SP, Kraus JF, Wright MA, Bradfield G. When children shoot children: 88 unintended deaths in California . JAMA . 1987;257:3107-3109.Crossref 6. Smith D, Lautman B. Child's Play: A Study of Unintentional Handgun Shootings of Children . Washington, DC: Center to Prevent Handgun Violence; (July) 1988. 7. Kellerman AL, Reay DT. Protection or peril? an analysis of firearm-related deaths in the home . N Engl J Med . 1986;314:1557-1560.Crossref 8. Brent DA, Perper JA, Goldstein CE, et al. Risk factors for adolescent suicide . Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1988;45:581-588.Crossref 9. Kellermann AL, Rivara FP, Somes G, et al. Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership . N Engl J Med . 1992;327:467-472.Crossref 10. Centers for Disease Control. Firearm-associated homicides among family members, relatives or friends: Ohio . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep . 1989;38:15-17. 11. Kellermann AL, Rivara FP, Rushforth NB, et al. Gun ownership as a risk factor for homicide in the home . N Engl J Med . 1993;329:1084-1091.Crossref 12. Weil DS, Hemenway D. Loaded guns in the home . JAMA . 1992;267:3033-3037.Crossref 13. Senturia YD, Christoffel KK, Donovan M, PPRG. Children's household exposure to guns: a pediatric practice-based survey . Pediatrics . 1994;93:469-475. 14. Christoffel KK, Binns HJ, Stockman JA, et al. Practice-based research: opportunities and obstacles . Pediatrics . 1988;82:399-406. 15. Poncher J. The Pediatric Practice Research Group: a niche for the primary care physician . Child's Doctor . 1990;2:9-14. 16. Senturia YD, Binns HJ, Christoffel K Kaufer. Sampling issues in a regional pediatric practice-based network . J Fam Pract . 1994;38:415-421. 17. Baker SP, O'Neill B, Ginsburg M, Li G, eds. The Firearms Injury Fact Book . New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc; 1992. 18. Marija Norusis , ed. SPSS/PC+ Advanced Statistics 4.0 . Chicago, Ill: SPSS Inc; 1990. 19. Draper N, Smith H. Applied Regression Analysis . 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc; 1981:294-349. 20. Zimring FE, Hawkins. The Citizen's Guide to Gun Control . New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Co Inc; 1983. 21. Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer's Association. Firearms Safety Depends on You . Riverside, Conn: Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer's Association Inc; 1987. 22. Bowling JM. Unintended childhood injury in North Carolina . State Cent Health Stat Stud . 1985:37:1-11. 23. Sienko DG, Thrush JC, Smith PK, Glandon RP, Zonia SC. Firearm Injury Control: A Public Health Perspective . Lansing, Mich; Ingham County Health Dept; 1991. 24. Woodwell D. Office visits to pediatric specialists . In: Advance Data From Vital and Health Statistics . Hyattsville, Md: National Center for Health Statistics; 1992; No. (208) . 25. American Academy of Pediatrics. Firearm Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population . Elk Grove Village. Ill: American Academy of Pediatrics; (January) 1992. 26. American Academy of Pediatrics. Firearms and Adolescents . Elk Grove Village, Ill: American Academy of Pediatrics; (January) 1992. 27. American Academy of Pediatrics/Center to Prevent Handgun Violence. Steps to Prevent Firearm Injury . Washington, DC: American Academy of Pediatrics and Center to Prevent Handgun Violence; 1994. 28. Bass JL, Christoffel KK, Widome M, et al. Childhood injury prevention counseling in primary care settings: a critical review of the literature . Pediatrics . 1993;92:544-550. 29. Denno DM, Grossman DC, Britt JW. Safe storage of handguns: what do the police say? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med . 1995;149:151.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine American Medical Association

Gun Storage Patterns in US Homes With Children: A Pediatric Practice-Based Survey

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References (32)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
1072-4710
eISSN
1538-3628
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.1996.02170280035006
Publisher site
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Abstract

Abstract Objective: To describe gun storage patterns in gun-owning families with children. Design: Survey of parents attending participating of fices. Setting: Twenty-nine urban, suburban, and rural pediatric practices in Chicago, Ill; New Jersey; Houston, Tex; Utah; Georgia; Iowa; and South Carolina. Subjects: Parents of children attending offices for well-or sick-child care. Selection Procedure: 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.(Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1996;150:265-269) References 1. Fingerhut LA. Firearm Deaths and Death Rates, United States, 1992: National Vital Statistics System . Hyattsville, Md: National Center for Health Statistics: 1995. 2. Alviani JD, Drake WR. Karlin MD. Handgun Control: Issues and Alternatives, 1983 ed . Washington, DC: US Conference of Mayors; 1983. 3. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. AFT News . Washington, DC: Dept of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobbaco, and Firearms: (May 22) , 1991. Dept of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms publication FY-91-36. 4. Harris L. A Survey of the American People on Guns as a Children's Health Issue . Cambridge, Mass: Harvard School of Public Health, LH Research Inc; 1993. 5. Wintemute GJ, Teret SP, Kraus JF, Wright MA, Bradfield G. When children shoot children: 88 unintended deaths in California . JAMA . 1987;257:3107-3109.Crossref 6. Smith D, Lautman B. Child's Play: A Study of Unintentional Handgun Shootings of Children . Washington, DC: Center to Prevent Handgun Violence; (July) 1988. 7. Kellerman AL, Reay DT. Protection or peril? an analysis of firearm-related deaths in the home . N Engl J Med . 1986;314:1557-1560.Crossref 8. Brent DA, Perper JA, Goldstein CE, et al. Risk factors for adolescent suicide . Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1988;45:581-588.Crossref 9. Kellermann AL, Rivara FP, Somes G, et al. Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership . N Engl J Med . 1992;327:467-472.Crossref 10. Centers for Disease Control. Firearm-associated homicides among family members, relatives or friends: Ohio . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep . 1989;38:15-17. 11. Kellermann AL, Rivara FP, Rushforth NB, et al. Gun ownership as a risk factor for homicide in the home . N Engl J Med . 1993;329:1084-1091.Crossref 12. Weil DS, Hemenway D. Loaded guns in the home . JAMA . 1992;267:3033-3037.Crossref 13. Senturia YD, Christoffel KK, Donovan M, PPRG. Children's household exposure to guns: a pediatric practice-based survey . Pediatrics . 1994;93:469-475. 14. Christoffel KK, Binns HJ, Stockman JA, et al. Practice-based research: opportunities and obstacles . Pediatrics . 1988;82:399-406. 15. Poncher J. The Pediatric Practice Research Group: a niche for the primary care physician . Child's Doctor . 1990;2:9-14. 16. Senturia YD, Binns HJ, Christoffel K Kaufer. Sampling issues in a regional pediatric practice-based network . J Fam Pract . 1994;38:415-421. 17. Baker SP, O'Neill B, Ginsburg M, Li G, eds. The Firearms Injury Fact Book . New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc; 1992. 18. Marija Norusis , ed. SPSS/PC+ Advanced Statistics 4.0 . Chicago, Ill: SPSS Inc; 1990. 19. Draper N, Smith H. Applied Regression Analysis . 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc; 1981:294-349. 20. Zimring FE, Hawkins. The Citizen's Guide to Gun Control . New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Co Inc; 1983. 21. Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer's Association. Firearms Safety Depends on You . Riverside, Conn: Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer's Association Inc; 1987. 22. Bowling JM. Unintended childhood injury in North Carolina . State Cent Health Stat Stud . 1985:37:1-11. 23. Sienko DG, Thrush JC, Smith PK, Glandon RP, Zonia SC. Firearm Injury Control: A Public Health Perspective . Lansing, Mich; Ingham County Health Dept; 1991. 24. Woodwell D. Office visits to pediatric specialists . In: Advance Data From Vital and Health Statistics . Hyattsville, Md: National Center for Health Statistics; 1992; No. (208) . 25. American Academy of Pediatrics. Firearm Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population . Elk Grove Village. Ill: American Academy of Pediatrics; (January) 1992. 26. American Academy of Pediatrics. Firearms and Adolescents . Elk Grove Village, Ill: American Academy of Pediatrics; (January) 1992. 27. American Academy of Pediatrics/Center to Prevent Handgun Violence. Steps to Prevent Firearm Injury . Washington, DC: American Academy of Pediatrics and Center to Prevent Handgun Violence; 1994. 28. Bass JL, Christoffel KK, Widome M, et al. Childhood injury prevention counseling in primary care settings: a critical review of the literature . Pediatrics . 1993;92:544-550. 29. Denno DM, Grossman DC, Britt JW. Safe storage of handguns: what do the police say? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med . 1995;149:151.Crossref

Journal

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine – American Medical Association

Published: Mar 1, 1996

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