Hsieh, H.-F., Hans, Z., Carrillo, A., Lee, D. B., Tran, M. N., Heinze, J., Yang, X., Herreshoff, E., Rudski, C. J., Kalvert, S., Schreiner, J., Rivera, E. D., Zimmerman, M. A., Carter, P. M., & Wu, T.-Y. (2026). Firearm ownership and storage among Asian American adults: Ethnic subgroup differences in prevalence and psychosocial correlates. AJPM Focus. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focus.2026.100541
Abstract
Objectives
Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the U.S and have seen sharp increases in firearm ownership in recent years. Yet little is known about firearm behaviors and their correlates within this population. To address this urgent gap in firearm injury prevention, this study uses a nationally weighted, probability-based mixed-frame survey to characterize firearm ownership, storage practices, and key psychosocial risk factors across Asian American communities.
Methods
This study utilizes the SAFER National Survey administered by Gallup in 2024. The study sample comprises of a probability sample of 1,806 Asian American adults recruited from address-based and panel sampling frames. Outcomes were personal ownership and unsecured storage (≥1 firearm stored loaded and/or unlocked). Predictors included sociodemographics, region, heavy alcohol use, mental distress, and violence exposure. Multivariable logistic regression for ownership (n=1,613) and bivariate logistic regression for unsecured storage among owners (n=175) were estimated using survey-weighted data.
Results
Overall, 11.6% reported personal firearm ownership. Among these, 87.9% cited protection as a motivation for owning a firearm and 67.7% reported unsecured storage (53% stored ≥1 firearm unlocked; 44% loaded; 30% both). Of the 36% of owners living with children, 66.0% reported unsecured storage (47% unlocked; 34% loaded; 8% both), with unlocked storage higher than national estimates. There was substantial variation in ownership, storage practice, and psychosocial correlates across Asian ethnicities. Heavy alcohol use was associated with ownership (aOR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.24) and unsecured storage (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.37). Firearm-violence exposure (OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.01, 2.49) was also associated with unsecured storage in bivariate analyses.
Conclusions
Asian American communities demonstrate marked heterogeneities in firearm ownership, storage practices, and associated psychosocial risk factors such as firearm violence exposure and heavy alcohol use. The findings underscore the need for culturally responsive, community-engaged injury prevention efforts and disaggregated data collection.
Key Words
Firearm Injury; Secure Firearm Storage; Firearm Ownership; Asian Americans; Risk Factors; Violence Exposure