In recent years, firearm-related incidents have surged dramatically in the United States, bringing urgent attention to the underlying social and structural determinants that fuel gun ownership and unsafe storage practices. Tarang Parekh, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Delaware, embarked on a groundbreaking investigation to unravel the intricate links between social determinants of health (SDOH) and firearm behavior. His study sheds new light on how economic, environmental, and societal pressures influence individual decisions regarding gun possession and safety, moving the discourse beyond simplistic narratives centered solely on personal mental health or behavior.
Parekh’s interest in this field was sparked by a deeply personal experience of hearing gunfire in his Houston, Texas neighborhood in 2022—a stark moment that exposed him to the grim realities of gun violence firsthand. This encounter propelled his resolve to explore the broader contextual factors shaping firearm ownership and handling, particularly examining how factors like financial hardship, housing insecurity, and limited access to resources correlate with unsafe firearm storage within households. His approach reflects a paradigm shift in epidemiological research, emphasizing systemic socioeconomic influences as critical drivers of health-risk behaviors.
Together with his colleagues—assistant epidemiology professor Jee Won Park and public health students Annaliese Pena and Meghana Bhaskar—Parekh analyzed data from nearly 63,000 adults participating in the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System across five states. These states—California, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, and Ohio—were specifically chosen due to their inclusion of firearm-related questions alongside social determinants in their surveys. This rich, self-reported data allowed the team to conduct a cross-sectional analysis linking demographic and socioeconomic variables with patterns of firearm storage and ownership.
Their results, recently published in JAMA Network Open, revealed nuanced intersections between social identity, economic status, and firearm practices. Firearm ownership was disproportionately prevalent among non-Hispanic white populations with higher income and education levels, challenging preconceived notions about gun owners being predominantly from economically marginalized groups. Conversely, unsafe firearm storage was more frequently observed in non-Hispanic Black households and among low-income populations, where social adversities such as food and housing insecurity, alongside substance use disorders and depression, compounded risks. This divergent pattern underscores the complexity of firearm behaviors within different demographic strata.
One of the most striking findings from Parekh’s study is the significant association between financial hardship and insecure living conditions with unsafe firearm storage. These social stressors appear to elevate risk, suggesting that economic instability and resource scarcity may compromise individuals’ capacity or willingness to implement safe storage measures. Such insights emphasize the critical need to contextualize firearm safety interventions within broader social support frameworks, rather than exclusively focusing on legislative or behavioral modifications.
The study also highlights the differential impact of state-level child-access prevention (CAP) laws on firearm storage behaviors. In states like California and Minnesota, where CAP laws mandate secure gun storage, safer practices were notably more common. However, Parekh critiques the sufficiency of existing laws, pointing out that while Delaware has CAP regulations, their enforcement and scope could be considerably stronger. Notably, California’s unique requirement for locking mechanisms with firearm purchases sets a higher standard that may serve as a model for other states seeking to reduce accidental firearm injuries, particularly among children.
Beyond legislative measures, Parekh advocates for the expansion of community-based initiatives such as gun buyback programs, which provide financial incentives for the voluntary surrender of firearms. He references successful campaigns in countries like Canada and New Zealand as evidence of the potential effectiveness of such programs when appropriately funded and supported. These interventions, coupled with policies addressing socioeconomic inequities, could collectively mitigate hazardous gun ownership conditions more effectively than laws alone.
Crucially, Parekh’s research challenges the dominant cultural narrative that mass shootings and gun violence primarily stem from individual mental health issues. Instead, he urges a careful examination of the social and environmental factors motivating a person’s decision to own firearms. Housing insecurity, exposure to unsafe neighborhoods, and systemic economic disadvantages may play equally significant roles in shaping firearm ownership and related behaviors. This reorientation in understanding opens pathways for more holistic, socially conscious prevention strategies.
The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated these dynamics. According to Parekh, the surge in firearm purchases during and after the pandemic was particularly pronounced among racial minority groups, many of whom reported feelings of insecurity and perceived the need for self-protection as justification. This trend underlines the intersection between societal disruption, racial disparities, and firearm acquisition—areas which merit deeper epidemiological and sociological investigation to inform tailored public health responses.
Parekh asserts that enhancing public safety requires an integrated approach that goes beyond tweaking laws. Investments in education, economic opportunity, and community resilience are vital to shifting the factors that drive unsafe firearm practices at the population level. This comprehensive view calls for cross-sector collaboration involving public health institutions, social services, policymakers, and community organizations to foster environments where firearm safety becomes a natural byproduct of social well-being.
The forthcoming phase of Parekh’s research plans to compare differences in state firearm legislation and explore how they intersect with social determinants of health to influence ownership and storage patterns. This comparative analysis could reveal critical policy levers and contextual nuances that shape the national firearm landscape, potentially guiding more effective, equitable interventions across diverse communities.
Ultimately, Parekh’s work reframes the gun ownership debate: “It’s not just about Second Amendment rights,” he explains, “It’s about understanding why people feel the need to own firearms in the first place—and how by making our communities safer, we might alter that decision.” This perspective encourages a shift away from polarized discourses and towards evidence-based strategies that address root causes rather than symptoms of gun violence.
Subject of Research:
Social determinants of health and their association with firearm ownership and storage practices.
Article Title:
(Information not explicitly provided in the source content.)
Web References:
- JAMA Network Open article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2834753
- DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13280
- University of Delaware Epidemiology Faculty – Tarang Parekh: https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/chs/departments/epidemiology/faculty/tarang-parekh/
- Everytown Research & Policy (CAP laws): https://everytownresearch.org/rankings/law/secure-storage-or-child-access-prevention-required/
References:
Parekh, T., Park, J. W., Pena, A., & Bhaskar, M. (2025). Association between social determinants of health and firearm ownership and storage behaviors: A cross-sectional analysis. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13280
Image Credits:
University of Delaware / Photo illustration by Jeffrey C. Chase
Keywords:
Epidemiology, Social determinants of health, Firearms, Psychological science, Social research
