When those close, interpersonal relationships wither, deep emotional pain and anger can result quickly enough to spark a deadly interaction. Recent studies by professors from the University of Mississippi found an alarming correlation between ending a relationship and experiencing domestic violence. Gun violence makes this connection even more alarming. This study emphasizes that the presence of a gun in domestic scenarios markedly increases the risk of fatal outcomes for women.
Women in the United States face a daunting statistic: they are 28 times more likely to die from firearm homicide than women in other high-income countries. This grim reality is a reminder of how badly we need to intervene in domestic violence situations. Boateng and Agboola’s findings provide a surprising revelation. This study reveals that simply the presence of a weapon, particularly a gun, significantly raises the likelihood of fatal incidents during intimate partner separations. As they explain in their research, the addition of a gun in any context of domestic violence significantly increases the risk. It increases the risk of femicide by five.
The research focused on a subsample of 309 domestic homicide cases. This accounted for the death as well as non-fatal interactions with intimate partners, relatives and family members. This data included the alarming fact that intimate partners make up the majority of the victims, with 63% of shootings in this data taking place within this context. When attacks were carried out using a firearm, a majority of the attacks (47%) used handguns. Other types of firearms were used as well, shotguns (13%), rifles (14%), and assault weapons (3%).
Boateng, an associate professor of criminal justice and legal studies, is a committed moral entrepreneur. Through their work, he and doctoral student Agboola are shining a light on the immediate need for stricter regulations on people’s access to firearms if they have a record of domestic violence. In their study, mental health was a factor in 42% of the crashes they looked at. This unexpected finding leads to even more questions on the intersection of mental health, access to firearms, and volatile domestic environments.
Though these loopholes have been laid bare, states such as Mississippi have not yet closed the gaps. This allows people who have been abusive or stalkery in past relationships to still possess firearms. The researchers emphasize the need to fill these gaps in order to avert tragic results that can occur when relationships dissolve. Reducing the availability of guns to high-risk people, especially men with histories of domestic violence, saves lives. This is a monumental step to lessen the dangers of unnecessary breakups.
Researchers first compiled this information to study mass shootings and other gun-related episodes in the U.S. It tracks the impacts from 1980 to 2018. These results carry far-reaching implications for policymakers and advocates alike who are striving to reduce the prevalence of domestic violence and strengthen our public safety.