Washington, D.C. — Following a year of record-high gun violence, a new report released today by the Center for American Progress highlights the alarming role firearms play in the context of violence against women. The report—which expands upon a 2019 CAP report, “Transforming the Culture of Power: An Examination of Gender-Based Violence in the United States”—identifies five key challenges: 1) gun violence in an intimate partner context; 2) gender-based violence by strangers and acquaintances; 3) gun-related hate crimes targeting transgender women; 4) the impact of COVID-19 on gun violence against women; and 5) the political actors and lobbyists who block gun reform.
The report also issues recommendations for policymakers to address gender-based gun violence, including:
- Disarming domestic abusers by closing legislative loopholes that allow dangerous people to access firearms
- Closing the gender wage gap to better enable survivors to leave abusive relationships and provide for their families
- Addressing online hate speech, which can lead to dangerous real-life situations
- Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to enhance protections for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking
“Firearms have long been used as a tool of power and control to instill fear in women, particularly women of color, disabled women, and LGBTQ people,” said Marissa Edmund, senior policy analyst for Gun Violence Prevention at CAP and author of the report. “It’s time for policymakers to confront this public health crisis with comprehensive, commonsense solutions that will address the root causes of gender-based gun violence.”
Please click here to read the report: “Guns and Violence Against Women: Key Challenges and Solutions” by Marissa Edmund
For more information or to speak with an expert on this topic, please contact Tricia Woodcome at [email protected].