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Changes in firearm prevalence often dominate public health discussions. However, researchers rarely assess the specific firearm divestment reasons leading individuals to give up their weapons. Notably, a recent study utilizing data from the 2024 National Firearms Survey provides new clarity on these trends. Specifically, it estimates that 1.7% of U.S. adults voluntarily divested of their firearms over a five-year period. Additionally, this percentage represents approximately 5.8 million individuals who transitioned from owners to non-owners during this timeframe.
Furthermore, the study highlights that safety concerns do not drive most divestment decisions. In addition, only 18.1% of former owners chose to divest because they viewed the weapons as a safety risk. Consequently, most individuals likely gave up their guns for logistical, financial, or personal reasons. Moreover, the survey found that 23.6% of these divestors still live in households where another person owns a gun. As a result, the individual removal of a firearm does not always eliminate household exposure to lethal means.
Similarly, clinicians should recognize these patterns during patient evaluations. For instance, psychiatrists and emergency physicians often provide lethal means counseling to at-risk individuals. Therefore, understanding that many owners do not instinctively associate their firearms with safety risks can help doctors frame these conversations more effectively. In conclusion, while millions are divesting, the household contexts and motivations vary significantly across the population.
While nearly 6 million adults divested of firearms, only about 18% did so due to safety concerns. Other reasons, such as lifestyle changes or reduced interest in hunting and recreation, likely account for the majority of these decisions.
No, the study found that nearly one-quarter of people who divested their own firearms still live in a household with another gun owner. Therefore, clinicians should assess the entire household environment during safety screenings rather than focusing only on individual ownership.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Refer to the latest local and national guidelines for clinical practice.
References
Lee MS et al. U.S. adults who formerly owned firearms: 5-year incidence of and reasons for divestment among a national sample. Inj Epidemiol. 2026 Apr 09. doi: 10.1186/s40621-026-00679-0. PMID: 41957671.
Swanson SA, Miller M, Zhang Y, Prince L, Holsinger EE, Templeton Z, Studdert DM. Patterns of handgun divestment among handgun owners in California. Inj Epidemiol. 2022;9(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s40621-021-00367-z.
Wertz J, Azrael D, Miller M. Americans who become a new versus a former gun owner: implications for youth suicide and unintentional firearm injury. Am J Public Health. 2019;109(2):212-214. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2018.304851.
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