Batterers' use of guns to threaten intimate partners

Author: Rothman, E. F. / Hemenway, D. / Miller, M. / Azrael, D.
Publication: J Am Med Womens Assoc
Link to Published Abstract
Topics: Domestic Violence Gender Ownership
Keywords: Legislation & jurisprudence Massachusetts Ownership/legislation & jurisprudence/ statistics & numerical data Risk Factors Spouse Abuse
Bibliographic information +

Data collected from over 8,000 males enrolled in a certified batterer intervention program in Massachusetts, 1999-2003, were analyzed in an investigation of gun ownership among batterers. Recent gun owners were 8 times more likely to have threatened their partners with a gun than non-gun owners.  Four main types of gun threat against partners were (a) threatening to shoot then, (b) threatening to shoot a pet or person the victim cares about, (c) cleaning, holding or loading a gun during an argument, and (d) shooting a gun during an argument.