The Intersectionality of Gun Violence and Intimate Partner Violence
By Leah Johnson - Communications/Fund Development Assistant Gun violence (GV) is an element of violence that has taken the nation…
The Intersectionality of Gun Violence and Intimate Partner Violence
By Leah Johnson - Communications/Fund Development Assistant
Gun violence (GV) is an element of violence that has taken the nation by storm on numerous scales. With drastic statistics from past years, such as it being the leading cause of death for children and teenagers ages 1-19, gun violence has proven time and time again to be a major issue that must be recognized. While it is something that needs to continue being addressed on a national level, it is impossible to look at the subject of Intimate partner violence (IPV) without recognizing the intersectionality between the two. GV and IPV fall under an umbrella of abuse that is, unfortunately, taking the nation by storm, both of which have multiple layers to them.
While gun violence is only one element of IPV, the severity of it is often overlooked, and therefore, a lack of resources is provided. By taking a brief look at the National Center on Gun Violence in Relationships, both survivors and victims can take advantage of the various tools provided. This link can be found on the firearms section of our website along with many other articles and resources.
Statistics over the years have shown the significance of gun violence within intimate partner relationships. For example, according to the National Center on Gun Violence in Relationships, firearms account for over half of intimate partner homicides. This statistic along with many others can be found in one of our various gun violence fact sheets. Going further in depth, our website provides specifics on the different subtopics that are involved within firearms in IPV. These include topics such as children, laws and regulations, tools and guides, and many more.
In addition to our tools and resources, we also offer a podcast: Taking Back Control: The BWJP Podcast. This podcast focuses on bringing advocates of intimate partner violence from around the country to discuss the importance of utilizing survivor stories in the work that we do here at BWJP and throughout the IPV field.
A lot of times, when we think about IPV, we disregard the fact that it is something that affects a wide range of demographics, not just adults or women or one race. For example, one of our many articles, What High Schools and Colleges Need to Know About Dating Violence and Firearms, goes into depth on the intersection between teen dating and firearms along with providing a downloadable resource from the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms.
With all the knowledge and research we have, it is impossible to not look at this issue through a national lens. In June of 2024, the United States Supreme Court upheld the federal law (U.S. v Rahimi) that prohibits domestic abusers subject to protection orders from possessing firearms. This major Supreme Court case allowed a great pivot for DV survivors and alleviated a sense of fear that may have been had from potential homicide survivors. This also allowed for DV to stop being looked at as “other” in reference to forms of violence against citizens. This decision followed the historical twin and blanket law “that an individual found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment.”
It is quite clear the magnitude of the gun violence problem within the context of intimate partner violence, and while we are recognizing Gun Violence Prevention Month throughout June every year, we ask that you take a deeper look at the intersectionality between the two as IPV survivors are not “other” in regards to GV and can be impacted just the same as someone who was not a victim of IPV.