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, "Is at least one of the firearms kept loaded and unlocked?" If respondents kept more than one firearm loaded and unlocked, interviewers asked, "Is at least one of the firearms kept loaded and unlocked?" Responses from these two questions were recoded into GUNLOADUNL.