A woman is shot and killed by a spouse or intimate partner in the United States every 16 hours.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the impact of domestic violence and the tools available to prevent it. Domestic violence is one of the biggest drivers of gun violence and the threat has only grown amid the pandemic.

Every year, millions of people in the United States experience domestic violence. Although it disproportionately impacts women, domestic violence doesn’t exclusively affect women. Every type of person in every type of relationship can experience domestic abuse. And when guns are involved, a domestic violence situation can turn deadly in the blink of an eye.

Over the last 18 months, pandemic-induced social isolation, financial hardship, and uncertainty increased the threat of domestic violence. At the same time, gun sales have surged, putting survivors of abuse at greater risk for gun violence.

Recently-released homicide data paints a grim picture of 2020: Nationally, homicides increased 30 percent—the largest increase since record keeping began. In Washington, homicides spiked 46 percent. In both cases, the vast majority of homicides were carried out with a gun. As advocates feared, domestic violence homicides spiked in 2020 too. Data from the Washington Coalition Against Domestic Violence shows a 20 percent increase in domestic violence homicides last year.

The good news is that gun safety laws that secure firearms from people with a history of domestic abuse work to save lives. They also prevent guns from being used as tools of coercion, manipulation, and intimidation. Washington has the strongest domestic violence protections in the nation, including recently-passed legislation that improved access to lifesaving domestic violence protections for Washington’s most vulnerable residents. Learn more about the intersection of domestic violence and firearms. And if you or someone you know needs help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522.

Kristen (she/her)

Alliance for Gun Responsibility
PO Box 4187
Seattle, WA 98194
United States

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