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Assessing Risks for Nonfatal Gun Violence

BOX 1: The following are questions that providers can ask to assess the DV victim’s risk for experiencing firearm violence by an abuser:

  1. Does the abuser have easy access to a firearm?
  2. Has the abuser ever threatened to use a firearm on the victim?
  3. Has the abuser ever struck the victim with a firearm?
  4. Has the abuser ever fired the weapon when angry, but not shot anyone?
  5. Has the abuser ever shot at or in the vicinity of the victim?
  6. Has the abuser ever shot the victim?

BOX 2: If the victim answers ‘yes’ to any of the questions in Box 1, the provider can ask “in further consideration of your safety, do you know”:

  1. Where the firearm is located?
  2. Has the abuser ever attempted to hide the firearm?
  3. Has the abuser locked the trigger of the firearm?
  4. Has the abuser stored ammunition with the firearm?
  5. Do you have a safety plan for yourself and for others?

Nonfatal firearm use is common in domestic violence (DV) and can have severe consequences for victim safety and well-being. It is a form of coercive control in which perpetrators attempt to injure, scare, and intimidate partners through threats of the use of firearms. Among the most common threats with a firearm are brandishing, threats to shoot the victim, striking the victim with the firearm, and threats of suicide by the perpetrator.

Remember, beyond the victim, others can be affected including children, other family members, friends, strangers, and pets. 

Providers of services for DV victims can assess the victim’s risk for firearm violence by inquiring about the behavior of the abuser in terms of prior firearm violence (see Box 1) and the abuser’s behavior with regard to the location and physical security (or insecurity) of the firearm (see Box 2).

References

Adhia, A., Lyons, V. H., Moe, C. A., Rowhani-Rahbar, A., & Rivara, F. P. (2021). Nonfatal use of firearms in intimate partner violence: Results of a national survey. Preventive Medicine, 147, 106500. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106500

Kafka, J. M., Moracco, K. E., Williams, D. S., & Hoffman, C. G. (2021). What is the role of firearms in nonfatal intimate partner violence? Findings from civil protective order case data. Social Science & Medicine, 283, 114212. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114212