Behavioral responses to the threat of firearm violence among Colorado adults.

Abstract

Introduction: Research examining the association between concerns about firearm injury and Americans' behaviors is limited. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of self-reported behavioral responses to fear of firearm injury among Colorado adults.

Methods: Data are from the 2023 Colorado Firearm Injury Prevention Survey (n=1,517 adults included; data analyzed 2025). The primary outcome was engagement in any of 11 behavioral responses assessed using an item modified from the Kaiser Family Foundation Survey: "Have you done any of the following to protect yourself or your family from the possibility of firearm-related violence?" Behaviors were categorized into avoidance, communication, or firearm-related. Weighted proportions and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported. Survey weights account for non-response and ensure findings are representative of Colorado adults.

Results: Among Colorado adults, 64.5% (95%CI:61.0%-67.8%) reported engagement in at least one behavioral response; 40.8% (95%CI:37.4%-44.4%) reported an avoidance behavior, 35.4% (95%CI:32.0%-38.9%) reported a communication behavior, and 27.9% (95%CI:24.7%-31.4%) reported a firearm behavior. In comparison to those who reported no changes, those who reported any changes were significantly more likely to identify as female or Hispanic, have children in the household, reside in a household with a firearm, have experienced violence, and were more likely to have reported concerns about firearm violence in their community and violence impacting themselves or their family.

Conclusions: A majority of Colorado adults report having changed their behaviors in response to the threat of firearm violence. Further work is needed to understand the broad impact of these behavior changes on the Colorado populace.