P3.135: Examining Firearm Storage Beliefs During a Crisis Among Rural and Non-rural Parent Firearm Owners

Background: Youth firearm access is associated with increased risk of suicide. Children living in rural areas have disproportionately higher suicide rates, partly secondary to high firearm ownership rates in their communities. Identifying whether beliefs regarding firearm storage in times of crisis differ between rural and non-rural parents firearm owners can inform messaging efforts to encourage secured firearm storage. The objective of this study is to compare perspectives of rural and non-rural firearm-owning parents around temporary storage or transfer of firearms if someone in their household experiences a mental health crisis.

Methods: We utilized data from the 2023 National Firearm Attitudes and Behaviors Study (NFABS), a nationally representative, weighted, cross-sectional survey administered by Gallup. NFABS enrolled 8,172 adults; those with children < 18 years old who owned a firearm were included in the analytic sample (n=583). We used chi-square analysis to compare non-rural and rural parent firearm owners on demographic characteristics, perceptions of firearm risk in times of crisis, and firearm access. The primary exposure was residing in a rural community, which was categorized by rural-urban continuum codes (RUCC) 4 – 9 using respondent federal information processing standard (FIPS) codes. Outcomes included parental beliefs regarding temporary firearm storage or transfer during mental health crises.

Results: There were 92 rural and 481 non-rural parent firearm-owners. Compared to non-rural parents, rural parents had significantly lower college attendance (54.0% vs. 63.3%, p=0.05), fewer households earning over $60,000 (34.3% vs. 52.5%, p< 0.01), and more households with multiple firearm owners (77.7% vs. 50.2%, p< 0.01). Non-rural parents were significantly more likely than rural parents to agree with securing, removing, or transferring a firearm if someone was at risk for suicide (79.4% vs. 69.2%, p=0.01). Non-rural parents slightly more often agreed to secure, remove, or transfer firearms during household hardships, such as relationship breakups, job loss, or school problems compared to rural parents (35.7% vs. 30.1%, p=0.23) and during emotional challenges (67.1% vs. 59.1%,p=0.08). Rural parents were more likely to know someone who was shot or killed by a firearm (45.0% vs. 37.1%, p=0.11).

Conclusion: Non-rural parents reported greater willingness to temporarily store firearms securely and transfer firearms during mental health crises compared to rural parents. Future research should seek to understand the barriers to secure firearm storage or temporary storage in these communities. Interventions to reduce child firearm-related suicide rates should consider the distinct cultural contexts of rural communities that impact firearm storage practices.