Title: Firearm Use in Intimate Partner Violence: A Brief Overview

Publication Date: June 2006

What does it say?

This is an overview of trends in the use of guns against intimate partners. The majority of domestic violence involving the use of a firearm to injure or threaten affects women.

Consistent with previous research the study notes that contrary to popular belief  the greatest risk to women comes from intimate partners with firearms rather than strangers. The murder of women in the home is most often carried out at the hands of a spouse or intimate partner and is often preceded by domestic abuse. Handguns are the most frequent weapons used in the murder of women and recent figures show that although rates of homicide of women by strangers have gone down, the number of murders by intimate partners using handguns has increased.

The use of guns in cases of domestic abuse does not have to be fatal. Often a gun is used to threaten or intimidate women in order to coerce. The study found that: “16 in every 1,000 U.S. women have been threatened with a gun, and 7 in 1,000 have a gun used against them by an intimate partner.”

How can I use it?

Universal background checks and the strengthening and enforcement of existing common sense gun laws that keep guns out of domestic abusers’ hands are essential in order to protect women.

Citation

Sorenson, Susan B., “Firearm Use in Intimate Partner Violence: A Brief Overview,” Evaluation Review, 30(3) (2006): 229-236

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