Peer-reviewed article
Hidden and unlocked firearm storage among Colorado firearm owners.
Nielsen AJ, Johnson RL, Wright-Kelly E, Simonetti JA ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how Colorado firearm owners store their guns, focusing on unsafe practices like hiding and leaving firearms unlocked. Nearly half of all firearm owners store at least one gun hidden and unlocked, and about 31% of households with children do the same. The research shows that many firearm owners rely on hiding as their main safety method, which leaves children at risk of accidental injury or unauthorized access. The findings highlight the need for better education about firearm storage safety, especially in homes with children.
Key points
- 47.2% of Colorado firearm owners store at least one firearm hidden and unlocked
- 39.7% of owners store at least one handgun hidden and unlocked
- 31.3% of households with children present store at least one firearm hidden and unlocked
- Hiding firearms alone is an unreliable safety practice for preventing unauthorized access by children
- The study used a state-representative online survey of 432 firearm-owning respondents in 2023
Limitations
The study measures storage practices only among self-reported firearm owners who participated in an online survey, which may not capture all Colorado firearm owners or reflect actual storage practices if respondents misreported. The data cannot explain why owners choose hidden and unlocked storage or whether they are aware of safer alternatives.
Abstract
Objective To determine the proportion of Colorado firearm owners who store firearms hidden and unlocked by firearm-owner, firearm-related, and household characteristics, including the presence of children in the household. Methods Data are from the 2023 Colorado Firearm Injury Prevention Survey, an online state-representative survey. Sociodemographic characteristics, number and type of firearms owned, and storage practices were assessed for respondents who reported owning at least one firearm (n = 432). The primary outcome was the proportion of firearm owners storing any firearm hidden and unlocked. Findings are presented as weighted percentages and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Among Colorado firearm owners in 2023, 47.2% (95% CI: 40.7, 53.9) stored at least one firearm of any type hidden and unlocked, 39.7% (95% CI: 33.3, 46.4) stored at least one handgun hidden and unlocked, and 25.7% (95% CI: 20.5, 31.8) stored at least one long gun hidden and unlocked. Among households with children present, 31.3% (95% CI: 21.6, 42.9) stored at least one firearm hidden and unlocked. Conclusions Storing firearms hidden and unlocked is common among firearms owners in Colorado. Efforts to prevent firearm injuries, especially by children and adolescents, should emphasize the risks of relying solely on hiding firearms to prevent unauthorized access.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Assessment of current firearm storage practices (hidden and unlocked storage) to identify risk factors
- Population
- Colorado firearm owners (n=432), including 31.3% of households with children present
Key finding
47.2% (95% CI: 40.7, 53.9) of firearm owners store at least one firearm hidden and unlocked