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Table 1 Semi-structured interview guide

From: Parental attitudes, beliefs, and practices related to firearm storage: a qualitative study

 

1

Can you tell me about the benefits of keeping firearms for you and your family?

 

2

If parent reports that their children use firearms—Tell me more about how your children use the firearms in your home

 

3

How do you keep your children from getting injured by firearm(s) in your home?

 

4

Can you tell me more about the reasons for your practice?

 

5

How did you learn about these safety practices?

 

6

You said that you store your firearms (storage method reported). What makes this a good option for you?

 

7

What challenges or problems might there be with storing your firearms this way?

 

8

Have you ever considered changing how you stored your firearms?

  

a

If participant considered change: What made you consider this change? Did you change your storage practices?

   

i

If participant considered change but did not change storage practices: what kept you from changing your practices?

  

b

If participant did not consider change: What would make you consider changing how you stored your firearms?

 

9

Many parents choose to store their firearms locked and unloaded in order to reduce their children’s risk of injury. What are your thoughts on this? (if further prompting is needed: what are the benefits and problems with storing your firearms this way?)

  

a

If participant does not store all firearms unloaded and locked: What keeps you from storing them this way?

  

b

What would get you to consider storing your firearms this way?

 

10

What do you think is the best way to keep children safe from getting injured by firearms? (if further prompting is needed: for example, laws that require firearms to be stored locked and unloaded, formal training held by law enforcement or sporting groups, informal instruction by peers, etc.)

If participant indicates that protection or self-defense is a reason for keeping firearms

 

1

Have you ever worried about you or someone in your family being the victim of a crime?

 

2

Whose responsibility is it to keep you and your family safe?

 

3

What is your own role in keeping you and your family safe?

  1. These questions were used to guide conversation with each participant. Participants were free to make comments unrelated to these prompts, and the interviewer asked additional questions to further elaborate ideas expressed by participants