Issues surrounding immigration and tragic mass shootings have been regularly populating the news cycle. But the common link between them still remains largely unaddressed.
Up until only a few decades ago, it was called the “crime that has no name.” Many knew it existed, many were victims, but it was never spoken about. Trying to press charges or prosecute could often lead to lives being put in danger, or even lost.
The crime is domestic violence.
The link between gun violence and domestic violence is one I’ve explored before. Not every case of gun violence or mass shootings is a result of domestic violence, but a large percentage — more than half — are. It’s estimated that, in the United States, 1 in 3 women will experience physical violence from a partner. That doesn’t mean 1 in 3 men are abusers — many are serial abusers who will have multiple victims. And domestic violence is not strictly perpetrated by men — 1 in 9 men experience physical partner violence. But the numbers are higher for women, and not just American women.
Families from South and Central America are fleeing domestic violence and coming to the states in search of asylum. An in-depth article from The New York Times reveals how certain cultural beliefs in Guatemala and other countries have led to an epidemic of domestic violence in some countries, often resulting in violent acts that destroy families and leave them living in fear.
In the U.S., violence in the home often leads to public violence. Even though domestic violence numbers are generally down since tracking started in the 1990s, in 54% of mass shootings from 2009-2017, the shooter had known reported incidents of domestic violence. And that’s just the reported incidents — some experts say the actual percentage of mass shooters linked to domestic violence could be higher.
Tackling domestic violence may not completely eradicate mass shootings. But enacting stricter domestic violence laws is one of the top three measures experts suggest for fighting mass shootings. The conversation is too focused on eliminating guns when it should be about eliminating domestic violence.
The conversation is too focused on eliminating guns when it should be about eliminating domestic violence.
Most states already have laws in place meant to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers. Studies show that states with the strictest domestic violence laws — when enforced — do work to reduce domestic violence-related homicides. Those laws include prohibiting abusers or stalkers from owning guns, required background checks for gun sales, having processes requiring abusers or stalkers to relinquish guns already in their possession and those with restraining orders to turn in guns.
When it comes to domestic violence, though, stricter laws aren’t enough. They’re more of a Band-Aid to a problem that runs deeper. The issues in Central America exemplify this. Cultural attitudes of women as property and something to control makes new laws trying to combat “femicide” (a new term given to female homicide victims) ineffective.
What will be most effective, experts say, is a complete cultural shift. Laws cannot change values, and it’s the values that guide behavior. But if change can’t be mandated, then how does it come to fruition, especially a change that has the potential to save countless lives, all over the globe?
Those experts say it starts with you. And me. All of us. Don’t let questionable actions or even seemingly ‘throwaway’ comments go unchecked, they say. Public transportation here in Utah plays a recorded message that gets to the point: If you see something, say something.
Of course, it’s victims themselves that ultimately have to decide whether or not legal action is taken. The decision to press charges or to escape a dangerous relationship comes with many valid concerns. As in Guatemala, many abusers in the United States can take out their anger on an entire family or group of people. So how can we let things from going too far?
I have an idea.
A common way of teaching youths to avoid drugs or harmful habits is to encourage them to make up their minds early on about how they will act in situations where these issues come up and nobody else is around to guide them. It isn’t a perfect method, but could the same be done with domestic violence?
Knowing the signs and what it looks like is vital, but also learning what to do at the first signs of danger should also be emphasized. Teach them to not make excuses or ignore red flags. The line on domestic abuse should be just as hard as the line on substance abuse.
Instruction on how to avoid being a victim isn’t enough, though. The crime lies with the abuser, and just teaching safety shouldn’t be the goal. How does one prevent an abuser from ever coming about? It may not be entirely preventable, but our cultural obsession with violence and the objectification of women certainly can’t be helping.
I know it’s not that easy. Just teaching youths to have a zero-tolerance policy, having the courage to speak out and banning violent video games from the home aren’t the magic solutions to ending domestic violence. But I think they’re a start. And we have to start somewhere.