This past Sunday, just days after the high-profile murder of Dr. Cerina Fairfax in Virginia, another man massacred an entire family and wreaked havoc on the community in Shreveport, LA.
THE COMMON THREAD?
Domestic violence, easy access to firearms, and the pervasiveness of a culture in which many men cannot fathom a woman who simply says “no”.
- 32% of all homicides in Virginia are domestic violence related.
- 68% of mass shootings in the U.S. are domestic violence related; these events are associated with higher fatalities, and 40% of the victims are children.
- The killer is almost always a man (91%), the weapon is almost always a gun (66%), and it almost always happens inside the home (83%).
- Policy makes a difference. Laws requiring people who have abused their partners to turn in their guns result in 16% fewer domestic violence homicides
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SURVIVORS & PREVENT LETHAL VIOLENCE RIGHT NOW
- Listen without judgment and believe survivors. Provide resources like your local domestic violence program or the Statewide Sexual and Domestic Violence Hotline (See final slide for info).
- Know the warning signs. Lethal violence most often escalates when a survivor becomes pregnant or makes the decision to leave their abuser.
- Help them plan for their safety by knowing the ins and outs of tools like protective orders and substantial risk orders, which can serve to temporarily disarm domestic abusers.
- Support policies at the local and state level that are linked to domestic violence prevention and gun violence prevention.
- Be a trusted resource and an agent of change. Support a greater understanding of the links between lethal gun violence, misogyny, and abuse
Shaneiqua Pugh, 34, and another undisclosed woman are in the hospital facing life-threatening injuries.
Children Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5, were all murdered.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
Our hearts are with the families and communities impacted. We stand with advocates on the ground, including the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Project Celebration, Inc.
Free and confidential help is available 24/7/365 at the Virginia Statewide Sexual and Domestic Violence Hotline:
- Call: 800-838-8238
- Text: 804-793-9999
- Chat: vadata.org/chat/
You can also find your local sexual and domestic violence agency using the interactive map at the bottom of every page of our website.
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