Nearly 1 in 6 Gun Owners in States Studied Store a Firearm Unlocked and Loaded at Home

Firearm ownership is a common part of life, but storage practices vary widely — often raising significant safety concerns.

ValuePenguin research shows that while roughly one-third (31.6%) of adults across states with available data report having a firearm in or around their home, a notable share of gun owners store at least one unsafely by keeping it unlocked and loaded.

These patterns differ significantly by geography, income level and other factors. However, findings are based on a limited group of states and aren’t nationally representative. Here’s a closer look.

Key findings

15.5% of gun owners store a firearm unlocked and loaded

Across the 17 states with available data, 31.6% of adults report having a firearm in or around their home.

Firearm ownership varies sharply by state. Among those 17 states, Wyoming has the highest share, with 65.8% of adults reporting a gun in or around the home, followed by West Virginia (59.9%) and Mississippi (59.4%). Conversely, New Jersey (13.7%), California (17.6%) and Illinois (22.2%) have the lowest rates.

Among adults in those same states, 4.9% say they store at least one gun unlocked and loaded in the home. That rises to 15.5% among gun owners, but it’s a practice that CDC researchers say may increase the risk of injury, death or unauthorized access, particularly for children and other household members.

Full rankings: States where adults have a firearm in or around their home

Adults with children in Wyoming are most likely to store a firearm unlocked and loaded

Where children are present, firearm storage practices can carry especially high stakes — and the data shows wide variation by state. Among the states with available data, Wyoming has the highest share of adults with children storing a firearm unlocked and loaded in the home, at 10.6%, followed by Mississippi (10.3%) and Louisiana (8.9%).

Meanwhile, New Jersey (0.2%) and California (0.7%) are the only states with available data that are under 1.0%. New Mexico (1.3%) is closest.

Full rankings: States where adults with children store an unlocked, loaded firearm in the home

Gun owners in the South are most likely to store a firearm unlocked and loaded

Specific to gun owners, unsafe storage is most common in Southern states. Across the states with available data, Louisiana leads, with 27.4% of gun owners reporting at least one unlocked, loaded firearm in the home. Mississippi (24.8%) and Wyoming (23.1%) follow.

Conversely, New Jersey ranks last among states with available data at 5.3%. Minnesota (8.4%) and California (10.0%) follow. (Nevada is again included in this analysis because its sample size among gun owners is large enough to meet reporting thresholds.)

Several factors may help explain why Southern states tend to rank higher. Unsafe storage is closely tied to lower incomes (more on that later), which are more prevalent in the two highest-ranking Southern states. Additionally, policy differences may also play a role. States with stricter gun storage laws — like New Jersey and California — tend to report lower rates of unsafe storage, while states with fewer regulations often report higher rates.

Full rankings: States where gun owners are most likely to store an unlocked, loaded gun at home

Lower-income gun owners are more likely to store firearms unsafely

Firearm ownership tends to rise with income, but safer storage doesn’t follow the same pattern.

While 16.5% of adults earning less than $25,000 in the analyzed states report having a firearm in or around their home, that share jumps to 39.0% among those earning $50,000 to $99,999 and 38.9% among those earning $100,000 or more.

At the same time, lower-income gun owners are more likely to report unsafe storage. Among those earning less than $25,000, 21.2% say they keep at least one firearm unlocked and loaded in the home, compared with 14.1% of those earning $100,000 or more.

This gap can partially be attributed to differences in access to safe storage resources, such as gun safes or lockboxes, which can be cost-prohibitive for some households. In contrast, higher-income households are more likely to have the means and space to invest in secure storage solutions, potentially reducing the likelihood of unsafe practices.

6.1% of adults without children report unsafe firearm storage

Adults without children in the analyzed states are more likely to report unsafe firearm storage than those with children in the home. Overall, 6.1% of adults without children say they keep an unlocked, loaded firearm in the home, compared with 2.4% of adults with children.

The gap is even wider among gun owners: 19.2% of those without children report unsafe storage, versus 7.7% of those with children.

Properly storing firearms: Home and health tips

Safe firearm storage plays a critical role in protecting both your household and your finances. Taking a few proactive steps can significantly reduce these risks while also helping you avoid costly medical bills or liability issues. We offer the following advice: