Interviewers introduced the questions on firearm safety by stating, "The next questions are about safety and firearms. Firearms include pistols, shotguns, rifles, and other types of guns. Do not include guns that cannot fire, starter pistols, or BB guns." The survey form also directed interviewers to read if necessary: "Sometimes the use of firearms can lead to injury, which is a health problem."

After establishing that more than one gun was kept in the home, interviewers asked, "What kinds of firearms are they?" The survey form directed interviewers to mark all categories that applied.

Other choices specified include:

• GUN2RIFLE Rifle kept around home (GT 1 firearm)

• GUN2SHOT Shotgun kept around home (GT 1 firearm)

• GUN2HAND Handgun kept around home (GT 1 firearm)

For sample adults who kept one or more firearms at home (GUNNO), the following variables indicate the type of firearms.

• see GUNANYRIFLE Kinds of firearms (all firearms): Rifle

• see GUNANYSHOT Kinds of firearms (all firearms): Shotguns

• seeGUNANYHAND Kinds of firearms (all firearms): Handgun

• seeGUNANYOTH Kinds of firearms (all firearms): other gun

The 1998 survey also included questions on the kinds of firearms kept at home. These variables are not harmonized with the "kind of firearm" variables for 1994 because the 1998 survey did not ask respondents about the number of firearms they possessed before asking about the type of firearm.

These variables include:

• GUNRIFLERifle kept around home

• GUNSHOTShotgun kept around home

• GUNHANDHandgun kept around home

• GUNOTHEROther gun kept around home