Introduction
Over 1.8 million Tennessee residents experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Fortunately, many victims survive these traumatic events; however, Tennessee reported 836 domestic violence homicides from 2009 to 2017. Although Tennessee 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.
Tennessee prohibits possession of firearms by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence and persons subject to a final domestic violence order of protection. Tennessee requires removal of firearms from persons subject to final domestic violence orders of protection.
