Domestic Violence and Firearms: A Cop’s View of the SCOTUS Ruling

When I was working in law enforcement, the #1 most feared calls, bar none, were domestic violence calls, They were the only calls that required us to have backup. The reason that they are the most dangerous is because they are unpredictable, and more often than not, turned even more violent as we were enroute to the call, and after we arrived. Domestic violence calls were of the utmost priority and to denote that, were preceded on the radio by three high-pitched long tones, signifying an in-progress, possibly life-and-death situation. It was chilling hearing the tones, because you always knew someone was in a horrific situation, and getting there was critical for their safety, and/or survival.

Domestic violence calls were and still are, a violent mix of someone trying to exact control and revenge against someone they say that they love - their family, ex-partner, significant other or current spouse. These calls could be a combination of a violation of a restraining order (or protection order), aggravated assault with/a firearm, sexual assault, burglary, child abuse, arson, attempted murder or murder. Police know when they arrive that these incidents are all felonies of varying degrees. What is not always known, is whether the offender is armed with a firearm.

Firearms and Domestic Violence Homicide

Why should abusers not have access to firearms? Because over half of intimate partner homicides are committed with firearms. With a gun in the home, women in abusive relationships are five times more likely to be killed by their abusive partner.

The ruling comes at a time when firearms are a leading factor in intimate partner violence nationwide. According to Gun Violence Archive, there have been 952 domestic murders involving firearms in 2024...so far.

Findings also show that when a firearm is introduced into a domestic violence event, the perpetrator is twice as likely to kill the intimate partner and other victims as compared to perpetrators using other weapons.

Intimate Partner Violence and Mass Shootings

The availability of a firearm in the hands of an abuser also increases the danger to the rest of the family. Because If the perpetrator shoots and kills four or more people in an intimate partner homicide, it is then considered a mass shooting. When most people think of mass shootings, they imagine a gunman opening fire on random strangers in a public area. But the truth is that many mass shootings involve intimate partners and other family members in a private residence. How many of these lives could have been saved if the abuser's access to firearms had been prohibited?

Prohibiting people who have already demonstrated their propensity for violence from possessing firearms is a huge step in the right direction. But it is only a step. Much more work needs to be done to ensure victims of domestic abuse can feel safe from their abusers. We were holding our breath on this one.

We can exhale, for now.