Introduction
Over 9 million residents experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Fortunately, many victims survive these traumatic events; however, California reported 1,126 homicides where the contributing circumstance was a domestic violence argument from 2010 to 2019. Although California doesn’t report the mechanism of death, evidence suggests firearms are a significant contributing factor. An abuser’s access to firearms can determine a victim’s chances of survival; domestic violence firearm prohibitions and removal laws save lives.
California prohibits purchase and possession of firearms and ammunition by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence and persons subject to ex parte and final domestic violence protective orders. California also requires removal of firearms from persons subject to ex parte and final domestic violence protective orders.
