Title: Firearm Storage Practices and Rates of Unintentional Firearm Deaths in the United States

Publication Date: July 2005

What does it say?

This study looks at the relationship between the ways guns are stored in U.S. households and rates of unintentional death. This was done by comparing the numbers of households that owned guns and the numbers of owners that kept guns unlocked and/or loaded with rates of unintentional death in different states. It was found that in states that had higher numbers of people that kept a loaded gun in the home rates of unintentional death were substantially higher. The risk of unintentional death was highest in states where higher numbers of households kept a gun that was both loaded and unlocked.

During the 10-year study period (1991-2000), 11,059 people died from unintentional firearm injuries. For 2002, 33% of Americans lived in households that kept a gun, 22% of these kept loaded guns in the home, and 13% kept guns that were both loaded and unlocked in the home.

Rates of unintentional firearm death were found to be 4% higher in states where an additional 1% of gun owning households kept a gun that was loaded. This death rate rose to 6% higher in states where an additional 1% of people kept a gun both loaded and unlocked in their home.

The study notes that its findings support the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association’s recommendations that guns should be stored unloaded and locked in order to reduce the chance of injury or death. The study concludes that: “promoting safer storage practices could save many lives.”

How can I use it?

Use this study to challenge the myth that guns make us safer. Gun owners need to be informed of the risks of keeping a gun in the home. In order to save lives it is important to store guns in the home safely and securely and to introduce universal safety features such as loaded chamber indicators and personalized locks (where only an authorized owner can operate the weapon) that help to “child-proof” guns.

Citation

Miller, Matthew, Deborah Azrael, David Hemenway, and Mary Vriniotis., “Firearm Storage Practices and Rates of Unintentional Firearm Deaths in the United States,” Accident Analysis and Prevention, 37(4) (2005): 661-667

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