Although firearm ownership increases the risk for violent injury or death, information on ownership among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults remains scant. This study presents results from the first, detailed state-specific examination of firearm ownership among LGBT adult residents of California. Approximately 8.0% (confidence interval [95% CI]: 5.7–11.1) of LGBT respondents personally owned one or more firearms and 7.9% (95% CI: 5.29–11.65) lived in a household with a firearm owner, resulting in a total household ownership rate of 15.9% (95% CI: 12.3–20.2). Most LGBT owners owned a single firearm for purposes of self-protection; almost one in three reported carrying a loaded handgun in the prior month. Findings may inform the development of violence prevention strategies targeted to LGBT firearm owners.
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