Journal article
Voluntary, temporary out-of-home firearm storage: a survey of law enforcement agencies in two states
Injury epidemiology, Vol.9(1), 24
07/21/2022
DOI: 10.1186/s40621-022-00389-3
PMCID: PMC9302866
PMID: 35864502
Abstract
Background
Temporary, voluntary storage of firearms away from the home during times of risk is a recommended strategy for suicide prevention. Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are often suggested as storage sites, and online maps in Colorado and Washington display LEAs willing to consider storage. Questions remain about the experiences and views of LEAs, including barriers to providing storage.
Methods
LEAs in Colorado and Washington were invited to complete a survey via mail or online from June to July 2021; invitations were sent by email and mail, with telephone calls to non-responders. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, with testing between states and other subgroups using Fisher’s exact tests.
Results
Overall, 168 LEAs in Colorado (n = 91) or Washington (n = 77) participated (40% participation rate). Of those, 53% provided temporary, voluntary storage upon request by community members at the time of the survey. More LEAs said they had ever provided storage when the requester was under a court order (74% overall). Over half (60%) of responding LEAs had received at least one storage request in the prior 12 months. Many (41%) said they had declined to return a firearm after temporary storage due to safety concerns. Most LEAs supported engagement in suicide prevention (89%) and provision of community services (77%), but they simultaneously preferred being a storage option of last resort (73%). Factors negatively influencing storage provision included liability and funding concerns.
Conclusions
In Colorado and Washington, half of LEAs currently offer temporary, voluntary firearm storage upon request. While LEAs support suicide prevention and community engagement, broader provision of storage and participation in online maps may be limited by logistic, liability, and financial concerns. Addressing these barriers may facilitate broader suicide prevention efforts.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Voluntary, temporary out-of-home firearm storage: a survey of law enforcement agencies in two states
- Creators
- Marian E. Betz - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusSara Brandspigel - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusLeslie M. Barnard - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusRachel L. Johnson - Colorado School of Public HealthChristopher E. Knoepke - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusRyan A. Peterson - Colorado School of Public HealthFrederick P. Rivara - University of WashingtonAli Rowhani-Rahbar - University of Washington
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Injury epidemiology, Vol.9(1), 24
- DOI
- 10.1186/s40621-022-00389-3
- PMID
- 35864502
- PMCID
- PMC9302866
- NLM abbreviation
- Inj Epidemiol
- ISSN
- 2197-1714
- eISSN
- 2197-1714
- Publisher
- BioMed Central
- Grant note
- K23 HL153892 / ; 18CDA34110026 / ; R61MH125754 / ;
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/21/2022
- Academic Unit
- Biostatistics; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984914019502771
Metrics
2 Record Views