PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Julia A Wolfson AU - Deborah Azrael AU - Matthew Miller TI - Gun ownership among US women AID - 10.1136/injuryprev-2018-042991 DP - 2018 Dec 19 TA - Injury Prevention PG - injuryprev-2018-042991 4099 - http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2018/12/19/injuryprev-2018-042991.short 4100 - http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2018/12/19/injuryprev-2018-042991.full AB - Introduction Little is known about female gun owners in the USA. We describe the number and type of firearms owned, and reasons for owning, by sex.Methods An online survey conducted in 2015 of 3949 US adults; cross-tabulations using survey weights generated nationally representative estimates.Results Twelve per cent (95% CI 10.6% to 13.6%) of women and 33.3% of men (95% CI 30.3% to 36.5%) personally owned guns. Male and female gun owners are demographically similar and cite similar reasons for owning firearms, but female gun owners own fewer guns (3.6 vs 5.6). Among female gun owners, 40.4% (95% CI 35.5% to 45.5%) own handguns only, whereas 20.7% (95% CI 18.2% to 23.4%) of male gun owners own handguns only. Approximately three of four male (73.4% (95% CI 70.3% to 76.3%)) and female (76.7% (95% CI 71.6% to 81.1%)) handgun owners own guns for protection from strangers. Males and female gun owners are equally likely to store at least one gun loaded and unlocked.Conclusions Male and female gun owners in the USA are demographically similar, cite similar reasons for owning guns and, despite males owning more guns, are equally likely to store at least one gun loaded and unlocked.