Firearm suicide accounts for over 60% of gun deaths nationally. (EveryTown, 2019) Information promoting holding guns for those at risk for suicide has been disseminated to gun shops, clinicians and law enforcement. (Grossman et al, 2005; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2016; Runyan et al, 2017) However, almost nothing is known about informal support systems regarding holding guns for others. Our study is the first to describe the characteristics of people who babysat guns for others and the reason they did.

methods:

Using data from the 2019 National Firearms Survey of 4,030 people who were either gun owners (n=2722) or living in a gun owning home (n=1308), we evaluated characteristics of people holding on to others’ guns and their reasons (n=278). We compared characteristics of those who reported holding guns versus those who did not.

results:

Two-hundred eighty seven people (7%) reported holding a gun for someone. Over half held due to mental health concerns, including 13% who specifically cited dementia. People who held a gun for others were more likely to: have had firearm training, have discussed firearm safety with a physician, and believe that lack of access to a gun would prevent suicide.

conclusion:

The most common reason people held guns for others was due to concerns for that person’s mental health. Our results will inform ongoing clinical and grassroots efforts aimed at encouraging the storage away from home of guns for people at-risk for suicide and other violence.