GVRC Blog

Hi all, I am Jen Paruk. I am a postdoctoral researcher here at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC), which means that I received my PhD a couple of years ago and am now working and training at the GVRC.  

One issue that deeply motivates my work at the GVRC is how frequently domestic violence gets overlooked. When I ask people about firearm violence—whether I'm speaking with students, firearm owners here in New Jersey, or others I've met through the GVRC—they typically tell me about the problems with gang violence, mass shootings, or firearm violence committed by those who own a firearm illegally. People are also very concerned about protecting themselves and their loved ones from home invasions.

But firearm violence within the home happens far more often than many realize. An analysis of 73 mass shootings from 2014-2017 found that 23, or nearly one-third, included an intimate partner. A total of 28 mass shooters were suspected of domestic violence, 61% of whom had been involved with the justice system for domestic violence. At least six shooters had potential domestic violence firearm restrictions.

Even in mass shootings, people often do not think about the connection to domestic violence. When someone is upset that their girlfriend broke up with them and is now dating someone else, and then kills her and her three kids, that is a mass shooting. As part of a research team, I found that nearly one-third of mass shootings included an intimate partner victim. These cases don't make the news in the same way as other mass shootings.

We're doing a lot of research here at the GVRC. We need more research on how to prevent firearm domestic violence from happening, how to help families keep firearms stored securely so firearms can't easily be used for violence within the home, and help victim-survivors of partner violence understand all their options for keeping themselves safe.