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Gun possession among Massachusetts batterer intervention program enrollees.
Emily F Rothman1, Renee M Johnson, David Hemenway
1Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Evaluation Review
|May 9, 2006
Summary
Access to firearms by batterers poses a lethal risk. This study found 1.8% of men in intervention programs owned guns, with risk factors including race, income, military service, gambling, and firearm threats.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Criminology
- Firearms Research
Background:
- Firearm access by abusive partners is a significant public health and safety concern.
- Understanding the prevalence and risk factors for gun ownership among individuals in batterer intervention programs is crucial for developing targeted safety interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of gun possession among men in Massachusetts batterer intervention programs.
- To identify risk markers associated with firearm ownership in this population.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory study design.
- Data collected from men enrolled in batterer intervention programs in Massachusetts.
- Analysis of self-reported gun possession and associated demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors.
Main Results:
- 1.8% of participants reported gun possession in or around their home.
- Risk factors for gun possession included being White, annual income of $25,000 or more, prior military service, problem gambling, and history of homicide attempts or firearm threats against a partner.
Conclusions:
- A small but significant proportion of men in batterer intervention programs possess firearms.
- Specific demographic and behavioral factors are associated with increased risk of gun ownership.
- Findings support the need for enhanced firearm regulations and screening within domestic violence prevention efforts.