The Threat In the Drawer
“Guns don’t need to be fired to harm.”
Firearms and domestic violence are a deadly combination. The presence of a gun in an abusive home doesn’t just increase the risk of physical harm - it escalates control, deepens fear, and drastically raises the chance of fatal outcomes. For many survivors, a firearm doesn’t have to be used to be threatening; its presence alone is often enough to silence, trap, and intimidate.
This report explores the complex and dangerous intersection of firearms and domestic violence. We will examine the statistics on gun use in domestic violence cases, outline the key risk factors for lethality, and discuss the types of firearms most commonly involved. Additionally, we will provide practical safety planning strategies for survivors who are navigating violence in homes where firearms are present.
Whether stored in a drawer, displayed on a wall, or simply known to exist, a gun shifts the power dynamic in a relationship long before it is ever used. Survivors deserve safety planning that reflects this reality—and systems must recognize the urgent risks that come with it.
This report is intended for advocates, frontline professionals, policymakers, and anyone committed to preventing domestic violence and supporting survivor safety in real, tangible ways.
This report is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. If you are experiencing domestic violence and know there is a firearm or are concerned firearms are accessible, or are in immediate danger, contact your local police or emergency services. For legal guidance or protection options, consult a qualified lawyer or legal advocate in your area.
History of firearms and violent crime
Since 1926, the year 1950 marked the lowest recorded rate of homicide in Canada. However, this trend shifted in the decades that followed. Between 1961 and 1990, firearms were involved in approximately 40% of all homicides, highlighting the growing lethality of interpersonal violence during that period. In cases involving intimate partners, primary homicides - where the offender intentionally seeks to cause harm or death - are more common than secondary homicides, which occur in the course of committing another crime. This distinction is critical in domestic violence contexts, where the intent to harm a partner is often rooted in patterns of control, coercion, and escalation rather than opportunistic violence. Understanding these trends helps underscore the importance of addressing access to firearms and the dynamics of intent in safety planning and prevention efforts.
Between 1961 and 1970, firearms played a significant role in domestic homicides in Canada. During this period, 47% of cases where husbands killed their wives - a total of 2,129 homicides - involved the use of a firearm. Notably, 27% of these cases ended in the husband’s suicide, reflecting the high lethality and often finality of firearm-involved domestic violence. In contrast, among the 782 cases where wives killed their husbands, 35% involved firearms. While the numbers were lower, the presence of a gun still significantly increased the likelihood of a fatal outcome, regardless of gender. These statistics underscore how access to firearms can escalate domestic conflict into irreversible violence, and reinforce the importance of firearm-specific safety planning in addressing intimate partner homicide risk.
Source: Government of Canada, D. of J. (2022, August 29). Firearms, Accidental Deaths, Suicides and Violent Crime: An Updated Review of the Literature with Special Reference to the Canadian Situation. Www.justice.gc.ca. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/jsp-sjp/wd98_4-dt98_4/p3.html
Firearms and Domestic Violence
In 2021, there were 803 victims of intimate partner violence involving firearms in Canada, with 83% of those victims being women and girls, highlighting the gendered nature of firearm-related abuse. While not all of these cases resulted in death, the presence of a firearm significantly increases the risk of coercion, control, and fatal outcomes. Between 2000 and 2020, 75% of all firearm-related deaths in Canada were suicides, further underscoring the broader mental health and safety risks associated with firearms in homes where violence is occurring. Additionally, 25% of domestic violence homicides during this time involved a firearm.
In rural communities, the threat is often more deeply felt - two-thirds of women in rural New Brunswick and PEI who lived in homes with firearms reported that the presence of a gun made them feel more fearful for their safety and well-being. Seventy percent said it directly impacted whether they sought help or disclosed the abuse. These findings demonstrate that firearms are not just a risk factor for fatality, but a powerful tool of intimidation that can silence survivors and prevent them from accessing support.
Source: Public Safety Canada. (2018). Parliamentary Committee Notes: Firearms Statistics [Review of Parliamentary Committee Notes: Firearms Statistics]. Public Safety. https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/prlmntry-bndrs/20230201/016/index-en.aspx
To counter domestic homicide, tighten gun control. (2018, July 20). Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative. https://cdhpi.ca/about-us/news/counter-domestic-homicide-tighten-gun-control
Statistics - What firearms are chosen?
In 2022, firearms were used in a range of domestic violence incidents, with 34% involving handguns and 28% involving rifles or shotguns. In contrast, when firearm-related violence involved a stranger, 66% involved handguns and only 9% involved long guns, reflecting different patterns of weapon access and intent depending on the relationship between victim and perpetrator. While firearms-related violent crime involving domestic relationships represents a smaller portion of all firearm-related violence - 9% involving intimate partners and 6% involving other family members - the consequences are often severe and deeply personal. Regarding firearm origin, nearly half of all firearms used in homicides in 2022 were legal in origin (meaning legally purchased initially, this does not mean they were currently legal), with 58% of shotguns and 49% of handguns traced back to legal sources. However, in cases involving homicide, only 13% of handguns and 12% of rifles or shotguns used were owned by individuals with a valid license, raising concerns about access through secondary markets, theft, or improper storage. These findings emphasize that while domestic firearm violence may appear statistically lower, the risks to survivors are profound, and the presence of a legally acquired weapon does not guarantee safety.
Source: Perreault, S. (2024, January 30). Firearms and violent crime in Canada, 2022. Www150.Statcan.gc.ca; Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2024001/article/00001-eng.htm
Safety Planning
Reporting Concerns:
Immediate concerns: Call 911 if you believe the person is a harm to themselves or others.
Non-imminent: Contact the Alberta Chief Firearms Office at
780-401-4140
albertacfo@gov.ab.ca
Familiarizing Yourself With the Firearms
If it’s safe to do so, show an interest in the firearms to learn as much as possible.
How many bullets does it hold?
How long between each shot?
How far do they shoot?
Know where they are stored.
Are the firearms locked in a cabinet: How long does it take to get the firearms out and be loaded?
If it’s safe, advocate with the owner to store the firearms and ammo separately in case police become involved. This gives you more time in case they choose to use the firearms - to use or for intimidation.
When the Firearm is Out
When a firearm is present and violence is escalating, safety planning must prioritize immediate survival. First and foremost, trust your instincts - no one knows your situation better than you, and you should only engage in safety strategies that feel realistic and effective for you.
If escape isn’t possible, focus on controlling your breathing: slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth can help reduce panic and keep your mind focused.
To protect your body, sit with your back against a wall and your knees tucked into your chest to shield vital organs. If accessible, consider purchasing bullet-resistant items - such as clipboards or backpacks - for added protection.
Be aware of your surroundings; if needed, hide behind solid furniture and, if possible, move away from your children to keep them out of the line of fire.
In moments of extreme threat, you may need to distract or confuse your abuser - turning off lights, throwing heavy objects, or creating noise may give you a brief chance to escape.
While no safety plan can eliminate risk entirely, preparing for these moments with even a few strategies may increase your chances of surviving a potentially lethal situation.
Exit Strategies:
When planning a safety route in a situation where a firearm may be used, the goal is to maximize cover and minimize exposure. Identify a route that places as many solid obstacles as possible—such as walls, heavy furniture, or appliances—between you and the shooter. Prioritize barriers that bullets cannot easily penetrate, like concrete, metal, or thick wood.
If you need to move, stay low to the ground, and dodge or weave to make yourself a harder target. Movement should happen in short, fast bursts - 2 to 3 seconds at a time - between points of cover. Don't move in predictable patterns; alternate your timing between hiding and sprinting to the next obstacle. The goal is to reach safety while staying protected and unpredictable. Practice this route when it is safe to do so, and consider multiple options depending on where the threat may come from.
Firearms in the context of domestic violence represent more than a physical threat—they are tools of fear, control, and silence. Whether used, shown, or simply known to be present, a firearm can drastically shift the power dynamic in a relationship and increase the risk of serious or fatal harm. This report highlights the critical need to recognize the role firearms play in coercive control, the patterns of lethality they contribute to, and the unique barriers they create for survivors seeking help.
Addressing firearms in domestic violence is not only a matter of criminal law or gun control - it is a matter of survivor safety, ethical intervention, and systemic accountability. Safety planning, policy development, and frontline practice must account for the unique danger firearms present and center the lived realities of those most affected.
Survivors know their situations best. Our job - as practitioners, advocates, systems, and communities - is to listen, believe, and act accordingly. Reducing access to firearms for those who use violence, and increasing support for those navigating fear with a weapon in the home, must be treated as urgent, life-saving work.
We cannot prevent every act of violence, but we can create systems that take warning signs seriously, prioritize survivor voices, and treat every firearm in a domestic violence situation as a risk that demands action.
References
Government of Canada, D. of J. (2022, August 29). Firearms, Accidental Deaths, Suicides and Violent Crime: An Updated Review of the Literature with Special Reference to the Canadian Situation. Www.justice.gc.ca. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/jsp-sjp/wd98_4-dt98_4/p3.html
Perreault, S. (2024, January 30). Firearms and violent crime in Canada, 2022. Www150.Statcan.gc.ca; Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2024001/article/00001-eng.htm
Public Safety Canada. (2018). Parliamentary Committee Notes: Firearms Statistics [Review of Parliamentary Committee Notes: Firearms Statistics]. Public Safety. https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/prlmntry-bndrs/20230201/016/index-en.aspx
To counter domestic homicide, tighten gun control. (2018, July 20). Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative. https://cdhpi.ca/about-us/news/counter-domestic-homicide-tighten-gun-control