-
A difficult discussion – domestic violence, firearms and divorce
An Alabama Police officer shoots his wife. His Gun was taken away. 9 months later, the state’s top law enforcement agency gave it back, despite pending domestic violence charges, an active protective order and his wife had filed for divorce. Just 16 days after that, he used the gun to shoot and kill her.
“Women whose domestic abusers have access to a firearm are five times as likely to be shot and killed, according to research funded by the U.S. Department of Justice.”
When you work with women who are victims of domestic violence, do you ask about firearms in the home?
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1269234?__twitter_impression=true
-
2 Replies
-
This is a difficult question, because as a huge proponent of the second amendment, I am not inclined to judge a person for owning a firearm. However, in this case of domestic violence, I do believe it is necessary to ask questions about gun safety and access to guns. Many times, it is not the women who own the guns, so they are unaware and uneducated about gun safety, rules, and regulations when it comes to firearms. Many times, they also don’t think it is possible for their partner to pull the firearm on them because typically they get physically abused with their partners fists, not a firearm. However, asking this question does seem to get them to think more about their safety (and their children’s safety) and raises the alarm in their head. Many abused women are so use to the abuse that they justify in their head why they have to stay. When you bring in the idea of their partner using a firearm, this seems to be a line for many clients. Either they will stay in denial and keep insisting that their partner will never pull a gun on them, or this is the straw that broke the camel’s back and puts them in enough fear of their life to finally leave.
-
understood and agree that so many are unwilling to see past their own truth, and simply cannot believe their partner would actually pull and USE a gun against them…so sad.
-
Log in to reply.