Owner Willingness to Temporarily Store Firearms With Firearm Retailers and Law Enforcement Agencies.

Importance: Voluntary and temporary firearm storage outside the home in times of heightened risk, including where unauthorized access may be possible, may reduce firearm deaths. Firearm retailers and law enforcement agencies may provide this storage, but little is known regarding variability among firearm owners and their households in their willingness to use these 2 storage resources, and whether lockers within retailers would increase willingness. Objective: To determine the willingness of firearm owners and their households to voluntarily and temporarily store firearms with retailers and law enforcement agencies. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this survey study, a nationally representative sample of US adults was surveyed online in May 2024 cross-sectionally. Exposure: Living in a home with a firearm. Main Outcomes and Measures: The willingness to use each storage resource was assessed by participants' willingness to store in at least 1 of 7 given circumstances. Three multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for participant characteristics were used to examine which characteristics were associated with (1) willingness to store with firearm retailers for any reason, (2) willingness to store with law enforcement agencies for any reason, and (3) whether lockers would make participant more willing to store with retailers. Results: A sample of 3146 US adults who live in a home with a firearm was surveyed (51.26% male; 95% CI, 49.37%-53.14%). Of participants, 41.38% (95% CI, 39.52%-43.27%) reported willingness to store firearms with retailers and 34.09% (95% CI, 32.31%-35.92%) to store with law enforcement agencies in at least 1 circumstance. The most common circumstance for willingness for both storage entities was concern that someone else in the home would use the firearm to hurt others (firearm retailers, 23.98% [95% CI, 22.41%-25.64%]; law enforcement agencies, 20.05% [95% CI,18.58%-21.61%]). Participants who believed that household firearm access increases suicide risk had increased odds of willingness to store with retailers (adjusted odds ratio, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.41-2.01) and law enforcement agencies (adjusted odds ratio, 1.86; 95% CI 1.55-2.24). Locker installation within retailers increased willingness to store with retailers for 22.24% (95% CI, 20.68%-23.89%) of participants. Conclusions and Relevance: In this survey study, a meaningful minority of those who live in a home with a firearm reported willingness to temporarily store firearms with retailers and law enforcement agencies in some circumstances. Locker installation within retailers and increased knowledge of the relationship between household firearm access and suicide may increase willingness. Findings provide policymakers with actionable strategies, such as supporting locker installation and reducing liabilities for firearm retailers.