The objective of this study was to assess parents’ firearm storage behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic and characterize reasons why some parents made their firearms more accessible during this time. In June-July 2020, the study team conducted the FACTS National Survey—a cross-sectional, web-based, survey of 2,924 parents and their teens (ages14–18) regarding firearm-related practices. We weighted descriptive analyses to be nationally representative of parents of teens in the United States. We utilized qualitative thematic analysis to identify parents’ reasons for making firearms more accessible. Five percent of firearm-owning parents of teens reported making their firearms more accessible during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reasons why parents increased the ease of firearm access included: (1) Increased civil unrest and riots; (2) Threat of home invasion and/or crime victimization; (3) Fear of panic and the unknown; and (4) Easier access and greater protection, threat unspecified. Some parents—largely motivated by fear—chose to store firearms in a more accessible manner during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to protect their family against possible external threats. Understanding the fear that motivates parents’ decisions regarding storage practices might aid interventions focused on harm reduction and safer storage.

本研究的目的是评估父母在 COVID-19 大流行期间的枪支储存行为，并描述一些父母在此期间更容易使用枪支的原因。 2020 年 6 月至 7 月，研究小组开展了 FACTS 全国调查，这是一项基于网络的横断面调查，针对 2,924 名家长及其青少年（14 至 18 岁）进行了有关枪支相关做法的调查。我们对描述性分析进行加权，以代表美国青少年父母的全国情况。我们利用定性主题分析来确定家长让枪支更容易获得的原因。拥有枪支的青少年家长中有 5% 表示，在 COVID-19 大流行初期，他们让自己更容易获得枪支。父母增加枪支使用便利性的原因包括：（1）内乱和骚乱增加； (2) 入室盗窃和/或犯罪受害威胁； （3）对恐慌和未知的恐惧； (4) 更容易访问和更强的保护，威胁未明确。一些家长主要出于恐惧，在 COVID-19 大流行初期选择以更方便的方式存放枪支，以保护家人免受可能的外部威胁。了解促使父母做出储存做法决定的恐惧可能有助于采取减少危害和更安全储存的干预措施。