Law enforcement and firearms: understanding firearm ownership and storage habits.

Autor:	Bond AE; Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA ab2242@psych.rutgers.edu.; New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA., Stanley I; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA., Bandel SL; New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.; Department of Psychology, The State University of NJ, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA., Anestis M; New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention [Inj Prev] 2024 Mar 20; Vol. 30 (2), pp. 132-137. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Mar 20.
DOI:	10.1136/ip-2023-044919
Abstrakt:	Objective: This study seeks to better understand firearm ownership among law enforcement officers (LEO), with the goal of informing future firearm injury and suicide prevention efforts. We describe the frequency and sociodemographic correlates of firearm ownership and storage practices among, and examine the association between suicidal ideation and current firearm storage practices. Methods: The present study used data from a large online study (n=6410) and included data from individuals who were currently or previously being employed as an LEO (n=369; M (SD) age=39.2 y (15.8 y), 75.2% male, 66.7% white). Self-report measures were used to assess for firearm ownership, storage habits and suicidal ideation. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the frequency of firearm ownership and logistic regressions were used to examine the extent to which demographic characteristics and suicidal ideation were associated with firearm ownership. Results: Overall, 70.5% (n=261) of the sample reported firearm ownership. LEO who were older had significantly lower odds of reporting firearm ownership. Those who were married and those who reported lifetime suicidal ideation had significantly greater odds of reporting firearm ownership. Whereas firearm-owning LEO who reporting storing a firearm locked had significantly lower odds of reporting lifetime suicidal ideation, those who reported storing a firearm unloaded had significantly greater odds of reporting lifetime suicidal ideation. Conclusion: Findings have important public health implications and can be used to increase adherence with secure storage recommendations. Increasing secure storage may help reduce suicide risk among LEO, a sample at heightened risk for suicide. Competing Interests: Competing interests: Author MA receives personal income in the form of book royalties, speaking fees, honoraria and consulting fees related to firearm suicide prevention. He also serves as the PI or Co-I on several grants focused on firearm suicide prevention. (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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