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 only one gun was kept in the home, interviewers asked, "Is the firearm kept loaded or unloaded?" If more than one firearm was owned, interviewers asked, "Are the firearms kept loaded or unloaded?" The responses from these two questions were recoded into GUNALUNLOAD.