After public health efforts to promote secure firearm storage, including public health media campaigns and the distribution of free lockboxes and trigger locks, more Washington households are storing firearms securely. According to a new study from the UW School of Medicine, the portion of Washington adults who reported storing household firearms securely rose from 34.9% to 48.8%. Past research has proven safe firearm storage to be associated with reductions in suicide, unintentional injuries, and gun theft.
The study, co-authored by HSPOP clinical instructors Tony Gomez and Aley Pallickaparambil, analyzed responses from Washington state adults to a national telephone survey conducted annually, called the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The survey found that the proportion of households who owned firearms did not change, but responses indicating safe storage rose. While safe firearm storage increased in Washington, they did not increase in rural areas.