Spring is a great time for new beginnings. Things seem brighter as the days are getting longer again, and with more sunshine everyone’s moods seem to improve. It would be even better if it brought with it a new attitude toward violence and how to deal with the underlying causes that lead to this violence. Instead, we seem more determined than ever to make weapons more commonplace, seeming to encourage more violence as opposed to dealing with underlying causes of the existing violence. This is particularly concerning when we read that the data shows that availability of firearms is a strong risk factor for both homicide and suicide. What is even more concerning given the work we do at the WCA is that women with access to firearms become homicide victims at higher rates than men. In fact, according to a study in the Journal of Trauma, more than twice as many women are killed with a gun used by their husbands or intimate acquaintances than are murdered by strangers using guns, knives, or any other means. Isn’t it time for a change in attitude that comes from more than just a change in seasons?
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