Domestic Violence and Guns
A woman in an abusive relationship is 5x more likely to be murdered when her partner has access to a gun.
Has your partner used a gun to threaten or control you?
There are steps you can take to protect your safety.
Know ALL of Your Support Options
Many survivors are fearful of what will happen if their partner finds out they asked for help. Or, they may have many reasons to be afraid of calling 9-1-1, involving law enforcement, or going to court.
Our community has support options that address your safety concerns.
Guns Make Domestic Violence More Dangerous
70 women on average are killed every month by an intimate partner with a gun.
A 2015 report found that Arizona’s domestic violence gun homicide rate is 45% higher than the national average.
The same report showed that 62% of women killed by an intimate partner in Arizona were shot to death.
Is Your Partner Harming You?
Domestic violence takes many forms.
Warning signs can include:
Physical and Sexual Violence —pushes, hits, strangles you, or forces you to have sex or perform sexual acts.
Controlling Behavior — tells you what to wear, where you can go, and has control of the money in the relationship.
Jealousy — accuses you of cheating, keeps you away from your family or friends, or won’t let you talk to other people.
Stalking — always knows where you are, checks your phone, or follows you.
Threats — threatens to kill or hurt you, your family members, or your pets. Threatens to kill themselves if you leave.
You are not alone. Find out what community support may work best for you.
Domestic Violence Resources
Crisis Hotline: Speak to an advocate about your unique situation and create a safety plan. Call 520-795-4266.
Emergency Shelter: Find respite from abuse in a confidential location with in-person support.
Civil and Criminal Lay Legal Services: Find out what legal rights and options are available to you. If you choose to seek support through the legal system, advocates can help you understand the process and be by your side in court.
Arizona Supreme Court’s AZPOINT, the Arizona Protective Order Initiation and Notification Tool, is a new portal designed to help you fill out a petition for an Order of Protection, an Injunction Against Harassment, or an Injunction Against Workplace Harassment.
Criminal Legal System Options
State and federal protections are available to people experiencing domestic abuse.
Anyone on any kind of domestic violence probation is prohibited from possessing a gun.
If police respond to your home and you know there is a gun present, you can ask the officer to take the gun if you feel that you are in danger.
Domestic Violence Protective Order
An order of protection is issued by any court in Arizona and is designed to prevent abuse.
You can apply for an order of protection online at AZPoint.com. Follow instructions online or reach out to an Emerge advocate to receive support filing the order.
Domestic violence advocates are also available to help at Tucson City Court.
What You Can Ask For:
- No contact with you
- No return to your home, work, or school
- Possess no firearms and transfer firearms to a law enforcement agency
- No contact with any pets
Reach out to Emerge today to find out if an order of protection is the right option for you.
Need help now?
Our multilingual hotline at 520-795-4266, available 24/7. Our hotline specialists can support with safety planning and provide information about Emerge and other community resources.