An Overlooked Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Vehicle Firearm Storage to Reduce Youth Access and Injury
Disciplines
Social Work
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Vehicle firearm storage is an often-overlooked pathway for firearm injuries among children, one that complements and sometimes compounds the risks from in home storage. While firearm safety research has traditionally focused on in home storage, far less is known about vehicle firearm storage as a method for unintended access and exposure. Using data from a large survey (N=768), this study examined vehicle storage practices among parents, carrying incidents, and incidental encounters. We found that 56.2% of parents reported keeping a firearm in their vehicle and of those, only 66.5% of them kept the firearm locked. By bringing vehicle storage into the conversation on firearm safety, this research highlights a critical gap in parent health behavior that requires proactive public health innovation. Addressing this alternative setting has the potential to expand prevention efforts beyond the home, reduce preventable access, and ultimately save lives. This issue is particularly urgent in Georgia and across the South, where firearm ownership is common and unintentional injury rates exceed national averages, making vehicle storage a vital target for interventions that could reduce disparities and save lives.
Use of AI Disclaimer
no
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS – Social Work and Human Services
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Melissa Osborne
An Overlooked Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Vehicle Firearm Storage to Reduce Youth Access and Injury
Vehicle firearm storage is an often-overlooked pathway for firearm injuries among children, one that complements and sometimes compounds the risks from in home storage. While firearm safety research has traditionally focused on in home storage, far less is known about vehicle firearm storage as a method for unintended access and exposure. Using data from a large survey (N=768), this study examined vehicle storage practices among parents, carrying incidents, and incidental encounters. We found that 56.2% of parents reported keeping a firearm in their vehicle and of those, only 66.5% of them kept the firearm locked. By bringing vehicle storage into the conversation on firearm safety, this research highlights a critical gap in parent health behavior that requires proactive public health innovation. Addressing this alternative setting has the potential to expand prevention efforts beyond the home, reduce preventable access, and ultimately save lives. This issue is particularly urgent in Georgia and across the South, where firearm ownership is common and unintentional injury rates exceed national averages, making vehicle storage a vital target for interventions that could reduce disparities and save lives.