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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Susan B. Sorenson, PhD, School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences Dept, University of California Los Angeles, Box 951772, Violence Prevention Research Group, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, (310) 825-8749, sorenson@ucla.edu
Background. Victims and survivors of gun violence can be effective advocates for firearm policy. Most such persons appear to be family members of persons who were killed by guns or who, themselves, were shot. The present investigation studied views of persons against whom guns are most often used to coerce or intimidate them - battered women.
Method. A total of 417 battered women completed in-person interviews in English or Spanish during their stay at 62 emergency battered women's shelters. Participants were asked their opinion about several gun policies.
Results. Some locales (e.g., New Zealand) require that the spouse or partner of a person seeking a firearm be asked about that person's suitability to have a firearm. Most (74.3%) of this sample of battered women thought such an idea would be a good law; 89.5% indicated they would say "no" if asked whether their most recent partner should be allowed to get a gun. If a personalized firearm (i.e., "smart gun") was in the home, 67.9% of the women said it would make things worse; 13.4% weren't sure, and 11.5% said it would make no difference. The most common concerns were that the gun could be used against her (27.1%) and that she would not be able to use it to defend herself (19.9%).
Conclusions. Personalized weapons, recognized by public health as potentially beneficial to several population groups, may increase risk for many women. The feasibility of "references" from intimate partners when an individual purchases a firearm merits discussion.
Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will be able to
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.