Disarming Batters: The Impact of Domestic Violence Firearm Laws (From Evaluating Gun Policy: Effects on Crime and Violence, P 157-214, 2003, Philip J. Cook and Jens Ludwig, eds. -- See NCJ-203338)

• NCJ Number: 203343
• Author(s): Elizabeth Richardson Vigdor; James A. Mercy
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 58 pages
• Sale Source: Brookings Institution
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper examines the potential impact of domestic violence firearm laws on intimate partner violence and homicide through an analysis of two types of State law on intimate partner homicide: laws preventing individuals subject to a current restraining order from owning or purchasing a firearm and laws that prevent individuals who have been convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from owning or purchasing a firearm.

Abstract

Violence among intimate partners is a significant public health and social problem in the United States. Intimate partner homicides represent the most lethal consequence of violence between spouses. Sixty percent of these homicides were committed using a firearm. In recent years, a number of laws have been enacted in hopes of reducing the role of firearms in domestic violence. In an attempt to evaluate the impact of State and Federal laws restricting domestic abusers access to firearms, this chapter analyzes two types of laws, those that prevent individuals subject to a current restraining order from owning or purchasing a firearm and those that prevent individuals who have been convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from owning or purchasing a firearm. The primary purpose of these laws is to protect the partners and children of these individuals from threats and potentially severe or lethal injury from a firearm. The effect of these laws is evaluated by looking at changes in intimate partner homicides in States that have passed the laws compared to those States that have not. Findings led to cautiously conclude that laws restricting access to firearms by abusers under restraining orders led to reductions in intimate partner homicides. The effect of the restraining order laws is confined to States that have the ability to check a database of those under restraining orders against persons applying to purchase a firearm. No evidence was found of an effect from domestic violence misdemeanor laws which causes hesitation in drawing firm conclusions on the effectiveness of the restraining order laws. Study limitations are presented. Figures, tables, comments, and references