Preventing Firearm Violence Among Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: An Evaluation of a New North Carolina Law

The proposed study will assess the effects of North Carolina State law S.L. 2003 410 (S919), enacted in December 2003, which prohibits people subject to a domestic violence protective order (DVPO) from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. The study will evaluate the extent to which the law is implemented, the impact of the law on gun-related conditions in the DVPOs, and victims' subsequent experiences with firearms violence. The project will describe the implementation and assess the impact of S.L. 2003 410. The project objectives are (1) to describe the scope and nature of gun possession by male defendants in DVPO cases, (2) to describe female plaintiffs experiences of gun-related violence, (3) to assess changes in judges inquiries about gun possession and gun-related prohibitions in DVPO, and (4) to assess changes in the surrender and confiscation of guns among defendants in DVPO cases. Objectives 2, 3, and 4 are before and after enactment of the law.