Firearm Ownership Among American Veterans: Findings from the 2015 National Firearm Survey

Overview

Journal Inj Epidemiol

Publisher Biomed Central

Date 2017 Dec 20

PMID 29256160

Citations 36

Authors

Emily C Cleveland

Deborah Azrael

Joseph A Simonetti

Matthew Miller

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: While the majority of veteran suicides involve firearms, no contemporary data describing firearm ownership among US veterans are available. This study uses survey data to describe the prevalence of firearm ownership among a nationally representative sample of veterans, as well as veterans' reasons for firearm ownership.

Methods: A cross-sectional, nationally representative web-based survey conducted in 2015.

Results: Nearly half of all veterans own one or more firearms (44.9%, 95% CI 41.3-48.6%), with male veterans more commonly owning firearms than do female veterans (47.2%, 95% CI 43.4-51.0% versus 24.4%, 95%CI 15.6-36.1%). Most veteran firearm owners own both handguns and long guns (56.5%, 95% CI 51.1-61.8%); a majority cite protection as a primary reason for firearm ownership (63.1%, 95% CI 58.2-67.8%).

Conclusions: The current study is the first to provide detailed, nationally representative information about firearm ownership among U.S. veterans. Better understanding firearm ownership among veterans can usefully inform ongoing suicide prevention efforts aiming to facilitate lethal means safety among vulnerable veterans during at-risk periods.

Citing Articles

Access to Firearms and Opioids Among Veterans at Risk for Suicide.

Khazanov G, Wilson M, Cidav T, Roberts C, Barry C, McKay J JAMA Netw Open. 2025; 8(1):e2456906.

PMID: 39874034 PMC: 11775732. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.56906.

Functional limitations and firearm purchases among low-income U.S. military veterans.

Testa A, Tsai J Inj Epidemiol. 2024; 11(1):68.

PMID: 39696558 PMC: 11657991. DOI: 10.1186/s40621-024-00553-x.

Predictors of recent mental health service utilization among firearm-owning US service members with high levels of psychological distress.

Rodriguez T, Bandel S, Bond A, Anestis M, Anestis J Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2024; 55(2):e13155.

PMID: 39666324 PMC: 11886764. DOI: 10.1111/sltb.13155.

Successful pilot implementation of mailing lethal means safety devices to veterans calling the Veterans Crisis Line.

Landes S, Bourgeois J, Curtis N, Thropp J, Panal E, Spitzer E Front Psychiatry. 2024; 15:1447639.

PMID: 39540005 PMC: 11557319. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1447639.

Comparison of six natural language processing approaches to assessing firearm access in Veterans Health Administration electronic health records.

Trujeque J, Dudley R, Mesfin N, Ingraham N, Ortiz I, Bangerter A J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2024; 32(1):113-118.

PMID: 39530748 PMC: 11648724. DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocae169.

References

Hepburn L, Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D . The US gun stock: results from the 2004 national firearms survey. Inj Prev. 2007; 13(1):15-9. PMC: 2610545. DOI: 10.1136/ip.2006.013607. View

Freeman T, Roca V, Kimbrell T . A survey of gun collection and use among three groups of veteran patients admitted to veterans affairs hospital treatment programs. South Med J. 2003; 96(3):240-3. DOI: 10.1097/01.SMJ.0000054421.36880.6E. View

Wiebe D . Homicide and suicide risks associated with firearms in the home: a national case-control study. Ann Emerg Med. 2003; 41(6):771-82. DOI: 10.1067/mem.2003.187. View

Miller M, Lippmann S, Azrael D, Hemenway D . Household firearm ownership and rates of suicide across the 50 United States. J Trauma. 2007; 62(4):1029-34. DOI: 10.1097/01.ta.0000198214.24056.40. View

Heinz A, Cohen N, Holleran L, Alvarez J, Bonn-Miller M . Firearm Ownership Among Military Veterans With PTSD: A Profile of Demographic and Psychosocial Correlates. Mil Med. 2016; 181(10):1207-1211. PMC: 5308415. DOI: 10.7205/MILMED-D-15-00552. View

Miller M, Azrael D, Hepburn L, Hemenway D, Lippmann S . The association between changes in household firearm ownership and rates of suicide in the United States, 1981-2002. Inj Prev. 2006; 12(3):178-82. PMC: 2563517. DOI: 10.1136/ip.2005.010850. View

Kaplan M, McFarland B, Huguet N . Characteristics of adult male and female firearm suicide decedents: findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System. Inj Prev. 2009; 15(5):322-7. DOI: 10.1136/ip.2008.021162. View

Nelson K, Starkebaum G, Reiber G . Veterans using and uninsured veterans not using Veterans Affairs (VA) health care. Public Health Rep. 2007; 122(1):93-100. PMC: 1802114. DOI: 10.1177/003335490712200113. View

Miller M, Barber C, Young M, Azrael D, Mukamal K, Lawler E . Veterans and suicide: a reexamination of the National Death Index-linked National Health Interview Survey. Am J Public Health. 2012; 102 Suppl 1:S154-9. PMC: 3496444. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300409. View

10.

Barber C, Miller M . Reducing a suicidal person's access to lethal means of suicide: a research agenda. Am J Prev Med. 2014; 47(3 Suppl 2):S264-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2014.05.028. View

11.

McCarthy J, Bossarte R, Katz I, Thompson C, Kemp J, Hannemann C . Predictive Modeling and Concentration of the Risk of Suicide: Implications for Preventive Interventions in the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Am J Public Health. 2015; 105(9):1935-42. PMC: 4539821. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302737. View

12.

Miller M, Barber C, Azrael D, Calle E, Lawler E, Mukamal K . Suicide among US veterans: A prospective study of 500,000 middle-aged and elderly men. Am J Epidemiol. 2009; 170(4):494-500. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwp164. View

13.

Kellermann A, Rivara F, Somes G, REAY D, Francisco J, Banton J . Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership. N Engl J Med. 1992; 327(7):467-72. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199208133270705. View

14.

Anglemyer A, Horvath T, Rutherford G . The accessibility of firearms and risk for suicide and homicide victimization among household members: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2014; 160(2):101-10. DOI: 10.7326/M13-1301. View

15.

Hoerster K, Lehavot K, Simpson T, McFall M, Reiber G, Nelson K . Health and health behavior differences: U.S. Military, veteran, and civilian men. Am J Prev Med. 2012; 43(5):483-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.07.029. View

16.

Miller M, Hepburn L, Azrael D . Firearm Acquisition Without Background Checks: Results of a National Survey. Ann Intern Med. 2017; 166(4):233-239. DOI: 10.7326/M16-1590. View

17.

Freeman T, Roca V . Gun use, attitudes toward violence, and aggression among combat veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2001; 189(5):317-20. DOI: 10.1097/00005053-200105000-00008. View

18.

McCarthy J, Blow F, Ignacio R, Ilgen M, Austin K, Valenstein M . Suicide among patients in the Veterans Affairs health system: rural-urban differences in rates, risks, and methods. Am J Public Health. 2012; 102 Suppl 1:S111-7. PMC: 3496440. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300463. View

19.

Kaplan M, McFarland B, Huguet N . Firearm suicide among veterans in the general population: findings from the national violent death reporting system. J Trauma. 2009; 67(3):503-7. DOI: 10.1097/TA.0b013e3181b36521. View

20.

Mann J, Apter A, Bertolote J, Beautrais A, Currier D, Haas A . Suicide prevention strategies: a systematic review. JAMA. 2005; 294(16):2064-74. DOI: 10.1001/jama.294.16.2064. View