The mere presence of a gun in a household increases a person's risk of suicide (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 3.06-3.86) and homicide (OR, 1372; 95% CI, 1.40-2.12) by firearm.
14,15 Several states have child access prevention (CAP) laws that mandate gun storage in a manner that prevents easy access by a child or teenager. A 23% decrease in unintentional shootings among children younger than 15 years was seen in states that placed CAP laws in effect.
16 When examining the storage of firearms, a 2018 national survey
17 of US gun owners demonstrated that about 24% report storing all their guns in an unlocked location, and only 24% of those reported using a trigger lock. The most common factors influencing gun storage practices were concerns about home defense, gun safety training courses, family discussions, and gun safety training from a family member
. Gun owners most commonly identified law enforcement officers, hunting/outdoor groups, active duty military, and the National Rifle Association as the most effective communicators regarding gun storage practices. This research found that physicians were seen as the least effective.
17 However, Albright and Burage
18 demonstrated a positive effect from office counseling by family physicians regarding gun safety practices. This intervention yielded a 3-fold increase in safety changes after the intervention compared with a no counseling control group. Becher et al
19 examined physician firearm ownership as a predictor of physician counseling for patients about firearm injury prevention. They found that internists and surgeons who own firearms are more likely to counsel patients about firearm safety.
When comparing the storage practices in households that contained a firearm in the presence of a child or person younger than 20 years, 4 practices were associated with lower risk of both suicide or unintentional injury: (1) firearm locked away in a lockbox or safe, (2) firearm kept unloaded, (3) locked storage of the ammunition, and (4) storage of ammunition separate from firearm.
20 Another study
21 also estimated that 31% of accidental firearm deaths could be prevented with the addition of child-proof safety locks and an indicator that the firearm is loaded. Programs that provide community counseling and education, such as “Love Your Kids, Lock Your Guns,” have demonstrated a 3-fold increase in safe gun storage.
22 Storage practices such as guns stored locked, unloaded, or both reduced suicide by firearm (locked: OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.24-0.66; unloaded: OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.18-0.49).
15 Following safe storage practices for both firearms and ammunition can prevent injury and death to children in the household. In an effort to reduce firearm injury and death, physicians - likely those in the primary care setting - should screen for firearm storage risks and educate patients on safe practices.
9
New technologies have resulted in the development of electronic gunlocks. These locks ensure that only authorized users can fire the weapon; whether through radiofrequency identification or biometric scanning. Interest level in this emerging technology was studied and found that only a modest number of current gun owners were interested in purchasing such technology.
23 Among study participants, those interested in personalized guns appeared more safety conscious in their current storage methods. Thus, the benefit may be limited.