Homes with guns

Men, veteran and older adults are more likely to have firearms stored in the home.

 

On average across 2018, 2020, and 2022, 19.6% of adults in King County had firearms kept in or around their home.  

  • Age: Adults ages 75 years and older (26.5%) were more likely to have firearms stored in their home compared to the county average. Region: Adults in South King County (28.0%) were more likely to have guns stored in their home, compared to the King County average. Adults in Seattle (13.7%) were less likely to have a firearm stored in their home than the King County average and among all other regions.   

  • Cities and Neighborhoods: Among cities and neighborhoods, Vashon Island (44.6%), Black Diamond, Enumclaw and Southeast King County (44.5%) and Maple Valley (42.9%) had the highest rates of adults with a firearm stored in their home.   

  • Race:  White adults (24.6%) were more likely to have firearms stored in their homes than the King County average. Asian (11.1%) and Hispanic (12.5%) adults were less likely to have firearm stored in the home than the King County average.   

  • Gender: Men (23.6%) were more likely to have firearms stored in their homes than women (15.7%).  

  • Military service: Veterans (41.8%) were more likely to have firearms stored in their homes than the King County average. 

  • Trends: The percent of King County adults with firearms stored in their homes fell from 22.1% in 2013 and 2015 to 18.3% in 2018 and 2020. However, it has since increased to 19.9% (2020 and 2022). 

Data about the impact of firearm injuries in King County, including deaths, hospitalizations, and Emergency Medical Services encounters, is available here.  

 

Notes & Sources

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System  

Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, supported in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cooperative Agreement NU58/DP006066-03-00 (2022). 

Gun stored in or around home: 

Numerator: People who responded “Yes” to the question: “Firearms include weapons such as pistols, shotguns, and rifles. In answering the questions, do not include BB guns, starter pistols, or guns that cannot fire. Include those kept in a garage, outdoor storage area, car, truck, or other motor vehicle. Are any firearms now kept in or around your home?” 

Denominator: All respondents who answered the question. 

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System collects information on the health and safety of Washington residents aged 18 and older. Every year, the Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conduct the survey primarily through telephone interviews, including landline and cellphone numbers. To learn more about the survey, please go to https://www.doh.wa.gov/DataandStatisticalReports/DataSystems/BehavioralRiskFactorSurveillanceSystemBRFSS 

To learn more about the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and view the data biography, click here.