Women and guns
Women make up just 11% of all gun-related murder victims in South Africa. Most South African women who fall victim to gun violence are killed with a legal gun owned by an intimate partner — a current or former husband, boyfriend, same-sex partner or rejected would-be lover. This is called intimate femicide.
In many areas of South Africa, women are perceived to have lower social value and power, and that men have the right to control women. This can lead to intimate partner violence (IPV).
IPV is a particular form of gender-based violence, and includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and controlling behaviours by a current or former intimate partner or spouse.
Research shows that living in a house with a gun increases the risk of gun violence. In cases of intimate partner assault, death is 12 times more likely if there is a gun involved.
In many areas of South Africa, women are perceived to have lower social value and power, and that men have the right to control women. This can lead to intimate partner violence (IPV).
IPV is a particular form of gender-based violence, and includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and controlling behaviours by a current or former intimate partner or spouse.
Research shows that living in a house with a gun increases the risk of gun violence. In cases of intimate partner assault, death is 12 times more likely if there is a gun involved.
Guns in the home
Gun use in intimate partner violence usually escalates over time. In fact, international research shows that most victims of femicide have been threatened with a firearm before they were shot. The four main types of threatening gun-related behaviour used by men are:
- Threatening to shoot their partner.
- Cleaning, holding or loading a gun during an argument.
- Threatening to shoot a person or pet the partner cares about.
- Shooting a gun during an argument with their partner.
How to stop intimate partner violence
How to remove a gun from a person
Prevention is better than cure
WHAT IS GENDER BASED VIOLENCE (GBV)?
DID YOU KNOW?
WHAT IS A PROTECTION ORDER?
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Myths
Don’t believe everything you hear about guns. Here are some common myths you should be aware of.
The biggest risk for a woman is stranger danger.
Fact: A national study found that more women (57%) were murdered by their husbands and boyfriends than by strangers.
You cannot tell when a woman is in danger of being killed by her partner or former partner.
Fact: If there are signs of an abusive relationship and especially if there is a gun in the house, a woman is in danger of being killed.
A legal gun in the home protects women, it is illegal guns that are used in domestic violence.
Fact: Research has shown that legal gun ownership significantly increases the risk of intimate femicide-suicide, with two-thirds (66%) of intimate femicide-suicide perpetrators in 1999 owning a legal gun.
If you safely store your legal gun at home, then there is no risk.
Fact: No matter how guns are stored, what type or how many you own, having a gun in your home significantly increases the risk of death for you, your spouse and your children.
Take Action
Together, we can make a difference to reduce gun violence and help create safer communities for us all.
Know the law, use the law, save a life
If you or someone you know is in a relationship where there is a risk of violence, take action to have the gun removed immediately by the police or the magistrate's court.
Don’t turn a blind eye to gender based violence
Offer support and seek help from an organisation near you.
Stand up to men who are being abusive
We all need to say no when men are verbally, emotionally or physically abusive to their female partners. We need to spread the message that violence against women is unacceptable.
Support the international #GunFreeValentine campaign
This runs from 14 February until 8 March (International Women’s Day) and aims to alert women to the risks of a gun in the home and how the law can be used to remove guns from the home.
