Homes with guns
Men, veterans and older adults are more likely to have firearms stored in the home.
On average across 2020, 2022, and 2024, 20.2% of adults in King County had firearms kept in or around their home.
Gender: Men (24.7%) were more likely to have firearms stored in their homes than women (15.8%).
Race: White adults (26.1%) were more likely to have firearms stored in their homes than any other race/ethnicity groups.
Military service: Veterans (43.0%) were more likely to have firearms stored in their homes than non-veterans (18.7%).
Age: Adults ages 45 years and older (22.9-25.1%) were more likely than younger age groups (15.0-17.1%) to have firearms stored in their home.
Region: Adults in South King County (28.5%) were more likely to have guns stored in their homes compared to other King County regions. Adults in Seattle (12.3%) were the least likely to have a firearm stored in their home.
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.