Hi John,

Every 16 hours, a woman in the United States is fatally shot and killed by a spouse or intimate partner. Research shows that the presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500 percent. Even when they aren’t used to cause physical harm, guns are too often used to control and intimidate victims of domestic violence. Trese’s story shows just how powerful the threat of gun violence is.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to shed light on this pervasive issue.

We know that one of the surest ways to prevent gun violence is to disarm domestic violence. Domestic violence laws vary greatly state by state, so we helped put together DisarmDV.org with our national partners. This website allows advocates, gun violence prevention activists, survivors, victims, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and so many others to research laws in their own state on domestic violence-related protective order firearm removals.

In Washington State, we’ve helped pass some of the strongest domestic violence laws in the country. From protection orders to background checks to victim notification, Washington is leading the charge to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

Although we have made tremendous progress to address the deadly intersection of gun violence and domestic violence, there is more work to be done. We’re gearing up for another legislative fight in 2020 and we need all the help we can get. Find out ways you can get involved here.

And if you or someone you know needs immediate help call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Thanks for being part of our movement,
The Alliance for Gun Responsibility