The Texas Church Massacre and Preventing Domestic Violence-Related Gun Violence

On Sunday, November 5, a man shot and killed 26 people and injured 20 others at a church service in Sutherland Springs, TX. Our hearts ache for the families and everyone affected by this tragedy.

According to the Associated Press, the gunman had a history of domestic violence. Recognizing the danger posed by domestic violence offenders with access to firearms, the  Battered Women’s Justice Project and its partners, with support from the Office on Violence Against Women of the U.S. Department of Justice, launched the Safer Families, Safer Communities website last autumn as part of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms. The website and Resource Center support comprehensive implementation and enforcement of domestic violence firearm prohibitions at all levels of government.

By providing information, as well as community-based strategies and examples, BWJP and its partners seek to prevent domestic violence-related homicide in our families and communities. Available resources include best practices for law enforcement and the courts, legal and social science research summaries and analyses, and guidance on developing effective implementation and enforcement policies and procedures. Staff and partners provide training, consultation and other forms of technical assistance.

By sharing these resources, BWJP and its partners hope to shed light on the intersection of firearms and domestic violence, and what individuals and communities can do to prevent future tragedies from occurring. To learn more about how to improve your community’s response to domestic violence-related gun violence, please visit www.preventdvgunviolence.org and connect with project staff.