Announcements

Resource Guide for Addressing the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Firearms

Over half of the women murdered in the United States are killed by a current or former intimate partner. The presence of firearms significantly escalates the danger in relationships where there is domestic violence by increasing the risk of homicide by 500%. The heightened threat to individual and public safety makes it crucial for law enforcement, prosecutors, civil and criminal courts, and victim service providers to strengthen a coordinated community response to address and prevent intimate partner violence. Effective intervention and support can mean the difference between life and death for victims and for the law enforcement officers who respond to the scene of a domestic violence incident.

The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women will continue to work tirelessly, alongside community partners – law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and victim service providers - to explore all avenues to strengthen the implementation of both federal and state laws to remove and prohibit the purchase of guns by adjudicated abusers who are prohibited from accessing firearms. OVW has collaborated with the Office of Justice Programs, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys to provide a Resource Guide of DOJ-funded technical assistance resources, grant opportunities, and helpful publications that can enhance a coordinated community response to address the lethal intersection of domestic violence and firearms. By leveraging these tools and information, communities can improve their prevention and response strategies, learn about federal funding, and develop crucial partnerships to protect domestic violence survivors, their children, and the greater public. 

For more information, please visit the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms. You can also visit the Office on Violence Against Women website for grant opportunities.