Barriers, motivators, and alternative safety strategies associated with firearm storage decisions among U.S. firearm owners

Firearm-related injury and suicide remain major public health concerns in the United States. Safe firearm storage is a well-established strategy for reducing risk, yet adoption varies widely across gun-owning households. This study aimed to characterize firearm storage behaviors, openness to alternative safety measures, and key motivators for behavioral change among a national sample of firearm owners. Data were drawn from a national cross-sectional survey of adults in the United States who reported owning or having access to a firearm. Participants were recruited using stratified national sampling to ensure demographic and geographic representation. Survey weights provided by the panel vendor were applied to all analyses to approximate population-level estimates. Weighted means and proportions were calculated for descriptive analyses. Associations between demographic characteristics and the use of gun cases, safes, or lockboxes were evaluated using survey-weighted generalized linear models. Among firearm-owning respondents, 59.1% reported using a gun case, safe, or lockbox. Safe storage was more common in households with children and increased with carrying frequency, but it declined among those who reported carrying a firearm daily. Individuals who did not use traditional locking devices frequently relied on alternative practices such as keeping firearms unloaded or storing ammunition separately. Participants also reported moderate willingness to adopt additional safety measures, including motion alarms and cable locks. 52.5% of respondents indicated that they intend to keep at least one firearm unlocked regardless of life circumstances. Among respondents willing to change their storage practices, top-two-box endorsement was highest for child presence (97.3%) and household mental or physical health concerns (97.2%). Firearm owners engage in a wide range of storage practices, including both traditional locking methods and alternative safety strategies. Motivators related to child safety and household health concerns appear especially influential and may serve as effective focal points for intervention. The findings underscore the need for flexible, personalized approaches to lethal means safety that reflect real-world behaviors and concerns among gun owners.