Seventy-seven people killed their intimate partner in North Carolina last year. 62% of those people used a firearm. That’s according to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a statewide nonprofit organization.
A 2015 report by John Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health says that “family and intimate assaults with firearms are 12 times more likely to result in death than non-firearm assaults.”
The 1996 federal Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, otherwise known as the Lautenberg Amendment, does not allow a person convicted of a domestic violence charge to legally possess a gun. But the New York Times reports: “ …in the two decades since, a large percentage of the perpetrators of mass shootings and other violent crimes have had run-ins with the law over spousal abuse — and have had little problem acquiring deadly arsenals.”
Here to help us explore this today:
Guests:
Mandy Houvouras, is the Direct Services/Outreach Director for Domestic Violence Shelter & Services
Erika Jones, Assistant District Attorney, New Hanover County; prosecutes felony domestic violence cases
Amily McCool, Legal and Policy Director for the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Resources:
Domestic Violence Shelter and Services in Wilmington:
https://www.domesticviolence-wilm.org/do-you-need-help/
Domestic Violence Shelter in Brunswick County: Hope Harbor Home
Domestic Violence Shelter in Pender County: Safe Haven of Pender County
http://www.safehavenofpender.com/
From Safe Haven:
Red Flags for people who may be in an abusive relationship
• Being physically hurt
• Feeling afraid of your girlfriend or boyfriend
• Feeling isolated, maybe even alone
• Losing your friends
• Changing your behavior because of your girlfriend's or boyfriend's jealousy
• Feeling embarrassed, put down, ashamed, or guilty
• Being threatened
• Feeling manipulated or controlled
• Being afraid to express your own feelings of anger
• A nervous or sick feeling in your stomach when your girlfriend or boyfriend is irritated, frustrated, or angry
• A pounding or fluttering in your chest when your girlfriend or boyfriend is not happy.
• Not being allowed to, or being afraid to make decisions, for yourself
• Noticing that your boyfriend has very traditional (stereotypical) beliefs about women and men
• Noticing that your girlfriend's or boyfriend's beliefs about the position of men and women in society is different from your own
• Feeling as if your date gets too personal or touches you in an unwanted way
• Not having your thoughts or wishes for personal space respected
Red flags for people who may be abusing their partner
• Physically assaulting your girlfriend or boyfriend (hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking)
• Intimidating your girlfriend or boyfriend
• Becoming angry if your girlfriend or boyfriend is spending time with other people
• Asking your girlfriend or boyfriend to change their behavior because you are jealous
• Verbally threatening your girlfriend or boyfriend
• Using 'guilt trips' to get your girlfriend or boyfriend to do something
• Feeling unable to control your own feelings of anger
• Making your girlfriend or boyfriend afraid of you
