Storage of firearms in vehicles: findings from a sample of firearm owners in nine U.S. states.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, there has been a growing number of thefts of firearms stored in vehicles. Despite this trend, there is limited research on firearm storage patterns in vehicles in the United States. This study investigates these storage patterns and evaluates the relationship between the surge in firearm purchases after March 2020 and the practice of storing firearms in vehicles. METHODS: Firearm storage practices were classified into four categories: (a) no vehicle storage, (b) locked vehicle storage only, (c) unlocked vehicle storage only, and (d) both locked and unlocked vehicle storage. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between vehicle firearm storage practices and the main independent variable (firearm purchases since March 2020), adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Those who purchased a firearm since March 2020 were significantly more likely to store at least one firearm in a vehicle unlocked only (RRR = 2.41, 95% CI 1.45-3.99) or both locked and unlocked (RRR = 2.57, 95% CI .180-3.67) compared to the reference category of no vehicle storage. CONCLUSION: Individuals who purchased a firearm after March 2020 were more likely to report storing a firearm in a vehicle. Given the limited research on patterns of firearm storage in vehicles, these findings provide novel evidence suggesting that firearm purchases following the March 2020 firearm purchasing surge may have fomented behaviors that increased the likelihood of firearm storage in automobiles. Moving forward, there is a need for additional quantitative and qualitative research that can better understand patterns and motivations of firearm storage in vehicles.

Parental Engagement With Children Around Firearms and Unsecure Storage.

This cross-sectional study analyzed the association between parents' engagement with their children regarding responsible and safe firearm use and the security of firearm storage in their homes.

Prevalence and correlates of handgun carrying and perceived ease of access among adolescents in Florida.

OBJECTIVE: Adolescent firearm violence poses a serious public health concern. The aim of this study is to explore correlates of access to firearms and firearm carrying patterns among adolescents in 2022. While previous research has documented correlates and risk factors for firearm carrying, the majority of this research has relied on samples collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent shifts in national patterns of firearm violence. METHODS: We analysed data from the 2022 Florida Youth and Substance Use Survey (FYSAS) (N=41 768). Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between demographic, familial, temperamental, and behavioural factors and both ease of perceived firearm access and patterns of firearm carrying. RESULTS: The results suggest that gender, grade level, race, residential setting, having a parent in the military, delinquency, depression, bullying and substance use are associated with perceived firearm access. In addition, gender, grade level, residential setting, ease of firearm access, delinquency, substance use, and bullying are all associated with firearm carrying. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a host of demographic features and behavioural factors are associated with both perceived ease of firearm access and patterns of firearm carrying. Implications of these findings for reducing access to firearms is discussed.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Household Firearm Ownership.

This survey study examines exposure to abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction during childhood and likelihood of gun ownership in adulthood.

Demographic differences in perceived effectiveness for policies to prevent school shootings: results from a representative survey in New Jersey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine what firearm policies New Jersey residents believe will prevent school shootings and the extent to which this varies by sex, firearm ownership status, and political affiliation. METHODS: A representative sample of New Jersey residents (N = 1,018) was collected via the Eagleton Center on Public Interest Polling (ECPIP). Data were weighted to reflect the state's population. Participants were asked to rate how helpful they perceived different firearm-related policies to be for preventing school shootings. RESULTS: Findings indicate that participants perceived universal and expanded background checks, increased mental health funding, and requiring a license for firearm purchases as most effective for preventing school shootings. Arming school personnel, prayer in schools, decreasing the number of entrances at schools, and secure storage requirements were viewed as less effective. Firearm ownership, sex, and political affiliation significantly influenced perceptions of the effectiveness of these policies. CONCLUSION: The study examined the perceived effectiveness of policies to prevent school shootings. The study highlights disparities and commonalities in policy support among different groups, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to address gun violence in schools.

Differences in reasons for secure and unsecure firearm storage: Results from a representative cross-sectional study of nine states.

Objectives: To examine factors that differentiate firearm owners who endorse specific reasons for secure and unsecure firearm storage. Methods: A subsample of firearm-owning adults (n = 3,119) drawn from a representative sample of adults (n = 7,785) residing in nine US states participated in an online survey. Results: The most common reason for not always using a gun safe was concerns that they render firearms too slow to access during an emergency (60.2%). The most common reasons for current firearm storage were ensuring ready access in case of emergency (59.7%) and preventing access by children and adolescents (44.6%). Firearm owners varied on their reasons based upon current storage habits, reasons for ownership, and the presence of firearms in the home. Conclusions: Firearm owners with children in the home are more likely to select storage methods they feel will prevent access by vulnerable individuals, whereas those who own for defensive purposes and those who store firearms loaded and unlocked are more likely to endorse storing their firearms for quick home defense and convenience and to see gun safes as unnecessary obstacles.

Deer Hunting Season and Firearm Violence in US Rural Counties.

Importance: Firearm violence is a major public health problem in the US. However, relatively little research has focused particular attention on firearm violence in rural areas, and few studies have used research designs that draw on exogenous variation in the prevalence of firearms to estimate the association between firearm presence and shootings. Objective: To investigate the association between the start of deer hunting season and shootings in rural counties in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cohort study, data from all rural US counties in states with available data on the timing of deer hunting season were matched with data on shootings from the Gun Violence Archive from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2021. Exposure: Shootings in the first 3 weeks of deer hunting season were compared with the week prior to the start of deer hunting season. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was daily total shootings. The association between the start of deer hunting season and shootings was estimated using Poisson regression models to analyze change within counties while controlling for relevant calendar year, month of year, and seasonal effects. Results: The sample included 854 rural counties with a mean (SD) population of 16 416 (18 329) per county and 5.4 (13.3) annual shootings per 100 000 people. The county fixed-effects specification analyzing the association between deer hunting season and shootings showed that relative to the week prior to deer hunting season, the incidence rate ratio for total shootings was 1.49 (95% CI, 1.13-1.95) for the first week of deer hunting season and 1.41 (95% CI, 1.02-1.94) for the second week of deer hunting season. Estimates remained consistent when excluding hunting accidents and were most pronounced in states with more hunting licenses per capita. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of the association between the start of deer hunting season and firearm violence, results showed that the start of deer hunting season was associated with a substantial increase in shootings. The findings highlight the role of firearm prevalence in gun violence and suggest the need for focused policies designed to reduce firearm violence in areas with substantial hunting activity during the first weeks of deer hunting season.

Gun Violence Exposure and Quality of Life in Nine US States.

Direct and indirect gun violence exposure (GVE) is associated with a broad range of detrimental health effects. However, much of this research has examined the effects of a single type of GVE (e.g., being shot) on discrete outcomes (e.g., daily pain, PTSD). Since people may experience numerous types of GVE (e.g., being threatened with a gun and hearing gunshots in their neighborhood) with broad effects on their well-being, we study the association between four types of direct and indirect GVE and five aspects of quality of life (overall, physical, psychological, social, and environmental). Using a representative sample of adults from nine states (N = 7455), we find that witnessing/hearing about a shooting in one's neighborhood was the most commonly experienced GVE associated with significant decreases in all five types of quality of life. Cumulative GVE was also associated with significant decreases in overall physical, psychological, social, and environmental quality of life. For example, individuals with four GVEs had an adjusted average physical quality of life that was 11.14 points lower and environmental quality of life that was 7.18 points lower than individuals with no GVE. Decreasing gun violence is a critical component of improving community health and well-being.

Officer gunpoint during police stops: Repercussions for youth mental health and perceived safety.

Youth-police contact is increasingly acknowledged as a stressor and a racialized adverse childhood experience that can undermine youths' mental health. The present study investigates a particularly distressing feature of youths' direct and witnessed in-person police stops-officer gunpoint (i.e., officers drawing of firearms and pointing them at youth, their peers, or other community members). We examine patterns of youths' officer gunpoint exposure and associations with youth mental health and safety perceptions. Data come from the Survey of Police-Adolescent Contact Experiences (SPACE), a cross-sectional survey of a community-based sample of Black youth ages 12-21 in Baltimore City, Maryland (n = 335), administered from August 2022 to July 2023. Findings indicate that ~33% of youth reporting in-person police stops had been exposed to officer gunpoint during stops. Officer gunpoint was significantly and positively associated with being male, unemployed, having an incarcerated parent, living in a neighborhood with greater disorder, and having been directly stopped by police, in addition to youth delinquency and impulsivity. Net of covariates, experiencing officer gunpoint was associated with a significantly higher rate of youth emotional distress during stops. Significant associations between officer gunpoint and youths' current police violence stress, police avoidance, and diminished safety perceptions also emerged and were largely explained by youths' heightened emotional distress at the time of police stops. Trauma-informed approaches are needed to mitigate the mental health harms of youth experiencing officer gunpoint.

Correlates of dangerous firearm storage among a representative sample of firearm owners across nine states.

OBJECTIVE: To identify demographic and behavioral correlates of dangerous firearm storage (i.e., unlocked and loaded) among firearm owners in nine states. METHODS: Online survey data from the probability-based sample were collected using Ipsos Knowledge Panel. Participants were adults residing in nine states across the United States (n = 7785). RESULTS: Nearly one third of the firearm owners within the sample stored at least one of their firearms unlocked and loaded. Greater threat sensitivity was associated with dangerous firearm storage. Established firearm owners who purchased an additional firearm during the firearm purchasing surge (2020-2021) had increased odds of storing at least one firearm unlocked and loaded. Those who had direct exposure to firearm violence and those whose primary reason for having a firearm at home was protection also had increased odds of storing at least one firearm unlocked and loaded. CONCLUSIONS: The results contribute to the literature on firearm storage tendencies, highlighting correlates of dangerous firearm storage within the home related to perceptions of threat and direct experiences with firearm violence. Implications include the need for broad public education on the value of secure storage targeted toward to those who have an elevated perception of danger and have been personally exposed to firearm violence.

Historical Redlining and Contemporary Violent Victimization Over the Life Course.

INTRODUCTION: This study assesses the relationship between living in historically redlined communities and the incidence of violent victimization and examines differences in this relationship across race and ethnicity. METHODS: Data are from the U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) from Waves I (1994-1995; ages 12-17), III (2001; ages 18-26), IV (2008-2009; ages 24-32), and V (2016-2018; ages 34-44). Multi-level, within-between regression models were used to assess the relationship between residence in historically redlined areas and violent victimization from adolescence to adulthood. The study includes 8,266 participants, and data analysis was conducted in 2024. RESULTS: Respondents who lived in redlined areas throughout adolescence and adulthood reported a 4.8% higher average probability of violent victimization relative to those who never lived in redlined areas. Respondents who moved from a non-redlined to a redlined area across waves also reported a 2.2% higher probability of victimization, on average. Although Black and Hispanic respondents were significantly more likely than their White peers to live in a redlined area and report violent victimization at each stage of the life course, the probability of experiencing victimization while living in a redlined area was similar between racial and ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the profound and enduring consequences of New Deal-era redlining policies for present-day safety, emphasizing the urgent need to confront and rectify historical injustices to enhance contemporary safety and well-being.

US Residents' Recognition of Proper Use of Firearm Cable Locks.

This survey study examines the ability of firearm owners and nonowners to determine correct and incorrect cable lock use across different types of firearms.

Firearm Violence Exposure and Functional Disability among Black Men and Women in the United States.

This study investigates the relationship between firearm violence exposure and functional health among Black adults in the United States (US). We examined associations between different forms of firearm violence exposure (direct, indirect, and community) and functional health with particular attention to differences across sex groups. We used survey data from a nationally representative sample of 3015 Black adult Americans to analyze associations between types of firearm violence exposure and four aspects of functional disability including: the ability to concentrate, walk/use stairs, dress/bathe, and run errands among males and females. The findings indicate notable disparities in exposure and health outcomes based on the exposure type and cumulative exposure to violence. Among males, functional disability was associated most closely with community violence exposure, while direct threats of firearm violence were most consequential for functional health among females. High cumulative exposure to firearm violence was linked to significant risks to functional health, particularly among females. The results shed light on sex differences in the repercussions of firearm violence exposure and emphasize its implications for daily functioning and health. This study contributes to the understanding of the multifaceted impacts of firearm violence on functional well-being and highlights the need for inclusive and culturally sensitive healing approaches based in community settings. There is a critical need for heightened awareness and strategies to enhance the well-being of those disproportionately affected by firearm violence in the US.

Local gun violence, mental health, and sleep: A neighborhood analysis in one hundred US Cities.

RATIONALE: Community gun violence significantly shapes public health and collective well-being. Understanding how gun violence is associated with community health outcomes like mental health and sleep is crucial for developing interventions to mitigate disparities exacerbated by violence exposure. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the associations between community gun violence , insufficient sleep, and poor mental health across neighborhoods in the United States. METHODS: We utilized a novel database covering nearly 16,000 neighborhoods in 100 US cities from 2014 through 2019. Correlated trait fixed-effects models were employed to conduct all analyses while considering various neighborhood covariates such as concentrated disadvantage, demographic composition, population density, and proximity to trauma centers. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that greater gun violence is associated with both insufficient sleep and poor mental health in subsequent years. There is a reciprocal relationship between poor mental health and insufficient sleep, with each partially mediating the other's association with community gun violence. Notably, gun violence exhibits the strongest direct association with poor sleep rather than with poor mental health. We found a consistent reciprocal relationship between sleep and mental health at the community level. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight a complex interplay between community violence, sleep, and mental health, underlining the importance of reducing community violence through numerous long-term interventions to address health disparities across the US.

Police Contact, Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, and Suicidal Ideation: Findings From a National Sample of Canadian Adolescents and Young Adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research is to investigate associations between police contact, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and suicidal ideation (SI) among a national sample of Canadian adolescents and young adults (ages 16-30). METHODS: Data used in this study were obtained from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors (N = 940), a national survey of Canadians ages 16-30. RESULTS: Police contact was associated with higher odds of NSSI (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.37, 2.86). Those who reported police contact with intrusion (OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.49, 3.38) and police contact with harassment (OR = 3.98, 95% CI = 2.30, 6.88) had higher odds of NSSI relative to respondents with no contact. Finally, any police contact was associated with higher odds of SI (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.04, 2.34) and respondents experiencing police stops with harassment had higher odds of SI compared to those who had never been stopped (OR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.45, 4.24). CONCLUSIONS: Distressing police contact heightens the risk of NSSI and SI among young people. Rigorous evaluation of trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate strategies for identifying and intervening on NSSI and SI following adverse police encounters should be prioritized.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trajectories of Firearm Exposure in Childhood.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the longitudinal relationship between exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in early life and trajectories of firearm exposure from early to middle childhood (ages 5-9 years old). STUDY DESIGN: Data from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LOGSCAN) study were used. The LONGSCAN study was a prospective study in the United States and contained data from 1354 children from age 4 to age 18 years old. Exposure to ACEs was measured through the wave 1 interview (age 5 years old) and trajectories of firearm exposure were created using data from waves 1 (age 5 years old) and two (age 9 years old). RESULTS: Two trajectories of firearm exposure in childhood were identified: a low exposure group and a group with persistently-high firearm exposure from ages 5 to 9 years old. ACEs were associated with membership in the high exposure group and children with four or more ACEs had over twice the odds of membership in the high exposure group compared with children with zero ACEs. CONCLUSION: ACEs exposure in early childhood is associated with persistently-high exposure to firearms from early to middle childhood. This finding highlights the need for pediatricians to consider screening for both ACEs and firearm exposure in routine examinations, as well as the need for future research to identify and evaluate interventions intended to address exposure to adversity and firearms.

Firearm Access and Gun Violence Exposure Among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black Adults.

Importance: American Indian or Alaska Native and Black adults experience elevated rates of firearm injury and death, but both groups are severely underrepresented in research on firearm exposure and behaviors. Objective: To explore geodemographic differences in firearm behaviors and violence exposure among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black adults in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this survey study, nationally representative samples of American Indian or Alaska Native and/or Black adults recruited from KnowledgePanel were surveyed cross-sectionally. Surveys were administered online between April 12 and May 4, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: Firearm access, storage, and carrying behaviors and lifetime firearm violence exposure were the primary outcomes. Demographic factors such as age, geographic location, and political affiliation were considered. Data were weighted to geodemographic distributions from the US Census Bureau's 2022 Current Population Survey. Results: Of 3542 participants, 527 (14.9%) were American Indian or Alaska Native (280 [53.1%] female) and 3015 (85.1%) were Black (1646 [54.6%] female). Both groups exhibited high firearm access rates (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 238 [45.4%; 95% CI, 39.4%-51.7%]; Black adults: 909 [30.4%; 95% CI, 28.0%-32.9%]), predominantly owning handguns for home protection. The groups demonstrated similar firearm storage patterns, and a substantial proportion endorsed always or almost always carrying firearms outside the home (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 18.9%; Black adults: 15.2%). Self-protection was a common reason for carrying a firearm (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 104 [84.9%; 95% CI, 74.1%-91.7%]; Black adults: 350 [88.3%; 95% CI, 82.3%-92.4%]), and a minority of participants cited lack of faith in the police (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 19 [15.2%; 95% CI, 8.2%-26.7%]; Black adults: 61 [15.4%; 95% CI, 10.3%-21.2%]), indicating potential shifts in public safety dynamics. Conclusions and Relevance: In this survey study of American Indian or Alaska Native and Black US adults, a substantial percentage of both groups reported living in homes with firearms, storing firearms loaded and unlocked, frequently carrying firearms outside the home, and having been exposed directly and indirectly to gun violence. These findings underscore the need for nuanced public health campaigns and policies and highlight challenges for law enforcement in contexts of racial disparities and changing legal frameworks.

Youth Incarceration in Adult Facilities and Mental Health in Early Adulthood.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between youth incarceration in adult correctional facilities and mental health in early adulthood. METHODS: We analyzed nationally representative data from 1997 through 2019 (N = 8,961) using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. An ordinary least squares regression model using inverse probability weights was used to assess the influence of youth incarceration in an adult facility on average mental health scores from age 18 to 37. RESULTS: Respondents incarcerated in an adult facility as a youth had poorer average mental health than those not held in adult prisons or jails over the course of the study period. Those incarcerated for longer in adult facilities also exhibited more mental health symptoms. DISCUSSION: Young people incarcerated in adult correctional facilities experience poorer long-term mental health related to depression and anxiety in early adulthood.

Gun Violence Exposure and Suicide Among Black Adults.

Importance: Black individuals are disproportionately exposed to gun violence in the US. Suicide rates among Black US individuals have increased in recent years. Objective: To evaluate whether gun violence exposures (GVEs) are associated with suicidal ideation and behaviors among Black adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study used survey data collected from a nationally representative sample of self-identified Black or African American (hereafter, Black) adults in the US from April 12, 2023, through May 4, 2023. Exposures: Ever being shot, being threatened with a gun, knowing someone who has been shot, and witnessing or hearing about a shooting. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcome variables were derived from the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview, including suicidal ideation, suicide attempt preparation, and suicide attempt. A subsample of those exhibiting suicidal ideation was used to assess for suicidal behaviors. Results: The study sample included 3015 Black adults (1646 [55%] female; mean [SD] age, 46.34 [0.44] years [range, 18-94 years]). Most respondents were exposed to at least 1 type of gun violence (1693 [56%]), and 300 (12%) were exposed to at least 3 types of gun violence. Being threatened with a gun (odds ratio [OR], 1.44; 95% CI, 1.01-2.05) or knowing someone who has been shot (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.05-1.97) was associated with reporting lifetime suicidal ideation. Being shot was associated with reporting ever planning a suicide (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.10-12.64). Being threatened (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 2.41-5.09) or knowing someone who has been shot (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.42-5.74) was associated with reporting lifetime suicide attempts. Cumulative GVE was associated with reporting lifetime suicidal ideation (1 type: OR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.19-2.39]; 2 types: OR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.17-2.44]; ≥3 types: OR, 2.27 [95% CI, 1.48-3.48]), suicide attempt preparation (≥3 types; OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 2.37-5.63), and attempting suicide (2 types: OR, 4.78 [95% CI, 1.80-12.71]; ≥3 types: OR, 4.01 [95% CI, 1.41-11.44]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study, GVE among Black adults in the US was significantly associated with lifetime suicidal ideation and behavior. Public health efforts to substantially reduce interpersonal gun violence may yield additional benefits by decreasing suicide among Black individuals in the US.