Showing papers by "Renee M. Johnson published in 2001"
TL;DR: Longer follow-up, verification of self-reports and correct use, testing of gun locks, and monitoring firearm injury rates after distribution programs are needed to establish the public health potential of this approach.
Abstract: Background Safer storage practices may reduce injury rates by limiting youth access to firearms. Objective To determine if a firearm safety counseling and gun lock distribution program improved storage practices. Design Community-based before-after trial. Setting Urban county in central North Carolina. Participants One hundred twelve adult gun owners recruited through a mass media advertising campaign. Intervention In the parking lot of a shopping mall, participants completed a survey, and were then provided with tailored counseling, gun safety information, a gun lock, and instructions to use it. Main Outcome Measures Firearm storage practices, assessed by survey and personal interview (baseline) and telephone interview (6-month follow-up). Results Most participants were white (62%), men (63%), had children (58%), and owned a gun for protection (74%). At follow-up, of the 82 participants, 63 (77%) (up from 39 [48%]) reported storing their gun(s) in a locked compartment ( P = .004), 59 (72%) (up from 0) reported using gun locks ( P = .001), 61 (74%) (up from 57 [69%]) reported storing their ammunition locked in a separate location, 59 (72%) (up from 52 [63%]) reported storing their gun(s) unloaded, and 6 (7%) (down from 15 [18%]) reported storing firearms unlocked and loaded. Participants with children were more likely at baseline to store weapons unlocked and loaded (38 [59%] vs 19 [41%]; P = .02) but were more likely after counseling to lock their weapons (29 [58%] vs 14 [44%]) and remove guns from the home (5 [10%] vs 0 [0%]). Conclusions This program prompted reporting of safer firearm storage practices, particularly among parents. Longer follow-up, verification of self-reports and correct use, testing of gun locks, and monitoring firearm injury rates after distribution programs are needed to establish the public health potential of this approach.
57 citations
TL;DR: The findings highlight the need for further investigation into law enforcement officers' attitudes toward gun locks, the degree to which their attitudes affect their firearm safety counseling, and the need to develop a gun safety device that can be disengaged quickly.
Abstract: Objectives —One way law enforcement officers support firearm safety is by promoting the use of gun locks. This investigation examined law enforcement officers9 willingness to use gun locks on their own guns, as well as their opinions regarding gun locks in general. Setting —Law enforcement officers from an urban agency in the southern region of the United States. Methods —Free keyed cable gun locks were distributed to all law enforcement officers in one agency who wanted one, and then an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted about their subsequent use of, and attitudes toward, these devices. Results —About half of the 207 officers collected gun locks (n=103). Nearly three quarters (73%) completed and returned the questionnaire. Two thirds reported that they were not using the gun lock they collected (65%), and over half disagreed that gun lock use should be required (56%). Very few cited any actual or potential technical problems with the device. An important reason given for non-use of gun locks related to being able to access the weapon quickly in case of an emergency. Conclusions —The findings highlight the need for further investigation into law enforcement officers9 attitudes toward gun locks, the degree to which their attitudes affect their firearm safety counseling, and the need to develop a gun safety device that can be disengaged quickly.
9 citations
TL;DR: Studies, including Azrael's, show that in households with multiple adults, one adult usually has more knowledge and more control over the number, type, and storage patterns of guns in the home.
Abstract: To the Editor.
We applaud Azrael and colleagues' recent article,1which addressed differential reporting on firearm storage patterns by which adult was the respondent. The article highlighted what can be described as the “safe gun storage promotion paradox.” Studies, including Azrael's, show that in households with multiple adults, one adult usually has more knowledge and more control over the number, type, and storage patterns of guns in the home. That particular individual, usually the adult male, is typically not the one who is exposed to gun safe storage promotion campaigns in the …
8 citations
TL;DR: Despite the law enforcement officers' prominent role in firearm safety promotion and support for initiatives that limit unauthorized access, the study found that many do not practice safe storage.
7 citations
3 citations