1 in 8 Gun Owners With Kids Don’t Securely Store Loaded Guns

Our core insights:

• 3 in 10 say quick access to a firearm outweighs safety concerns regarding its storage
• 1 in 7 Americans oppose legal requirement for safe storage even in homes with children
• The majority of gun owners say their firearms are generally loaded
• 1 in 8 gun owners with children don’t secure loaded firearms
• Gun owners with children are 2x more likely to report they’ve experienced an accidental discharge 

3 in 10 Americans Say Quick Access to Firearms Outweighs Need for Safe Storage

While 92% strongly (82%) or somewhat (10%) agree that proper gun storage (i.e., locked and/or unloaded) is necessary in a household, nearly 30% of respondents believe that having quick access to a firearm is more important than adhering to strict storage safety measures. This group feels that in situations where a firearm is needed immediately, accessibility should be prioritized over secure storage. In contrast, around 49% of respondents disagreed, emphasizing that safety should never be compromised, even in emergencies. Meanwhile, 23% of respondents remained neutral.

“Keeping your firearm stored properly doesn’t mean you give up access in an emergency,” says 23-year law enforcement professional and consultant Rick Musson. “The important thing is to practice so that in an emergency, you’re confident.”

“There are safes designed to rest next to your bed, in your closet, or anywhere you might need to access your firearm.”

1 in 7 oppose legal requirement for safe storage even in homes with children

A notable percentage (14%) of respondents oppose legal requirements for proper gun storage. In contrast, 54% believe all households should be legally required to follow proper gun storage protocols, while 26% think only households with children should be subject to such requirements.

1 in 10 Gun Owners With Kids Keep a Firearm in Their Bedside Table

The majority of gun owners have more than one firearm: 35% own one firearm, 45% own two to three firearms, 9% own four to five, and 11% own more than five firearms.

Most gun owners report that their firearms are generally loaded: 32% of respondents always keep their firearms loaded, 21% do so most of the time, 11% occasionally, 15% rarely, and 21% never keep their firearms loaded.

Among respondents with children in the home, 85% store at least one of their guns in a locked safe, 21% hide at least one in a closet, and 10% keep one in a bedside table. Smaller percentages say they store firearms under a pillow (3%), in a car (5%), or a kitchen drawer (2%). Respondents could select multiple answers.

A smaller percentage (56%) of respondents without children under 18 store at least one gun in a locked safe. Over a quarter (27%) hide guns in a closet, and another 27% keep at least one in a bedside table. Smaller percentages store firearms under a pillow (6%), in a car (9%), or a kitchen drawer (3%).

“As an attorney, I cannot recommend keeping loaded firearms easily accessible, especially if there are children in the home,” says Attorney M. Denzell Moton. “This presents unacceptable risks. Firearms should be securely stored and unloaded, in a locked safe or cabinet, with ammunition locked separately. 

“In my experience, many accidental injuries and deaths result from guns left loaded and within easy reach. For home defense, quickly accessing a firearm is less important than safety. An intruder is unlikely, but accidents with unsecured guns are all too common.

“Gun ownership is a serious responsibility. Following recommended safety procedures and proper storage practices is critical, especially with children in the home. Their wellbeing should be the top priority.”

Gun Owners With Children Are 2x More Likely To Report They’ve Experienced An Accidental Discharge 

Overall, 3% of gun owners surveyed report having experienced an accidental discharge. Gun owners with children were more than twice as likely to say they had experienced such an event compared to those without children (5% versus 2%, respectively).

Thirteen percent of respondents have never taken a gun safety or firearm training course and don’t plan to, while 9% haven’t taken one but intend to in the future. The majority, 78%, have already completed a course.

Among respondents with children under 18, nearly two-thirds (65%) say they have thoroughly taught their children about gun safety, while 18% say they have provided only basic safety instruction. Further, 16% plan to teach gun safety later, while 2% don’t believe it’s necessary. 

Most respondents (43%) began teaching gun safety to their children between the ages of five and nine, while 27% started before age five and another 27% began between ages 10 and 14. Only 3% waited until their children were 15 or older to introduce gun safety.

“Gun safety training is very important. Even if you think you have a handle on the basics, keeping up on gun safety is a good reminder of the basics,” says Musson.

“If you have firearms and children, you should start teaching gun safety as soon as your child starts talking. Of course, it should be age-appropriate. If you’re open and honest about guns, firearms won’t seem like such a taboo and desirable item for children.” 

Methodology: This report is based on data from a survey commissioned by StorageUnits.com and conducted online via Pollfish. The survey included 1,250 U.S. residents and took place in September 2024. It was census-balanced for age, region, and gender.