“I Didn't Know He Had It in Him to Kill Me”: Nonlethal Firearms Use and Partner Violence Against Canadian Women

Abstract

This qualitative research explored with women the nature and impact of non-lethal firearm related assaults inflicted on them by their male partners. Forty women from Alberta, Canada described incident(s) in which firearms were central, with 5 contextual themes emerging: (a) threats by partners to commit suicide with firearms (4 women); (b) indirect threats (6 women); (c) explicit threats to harm with a firearm without producing the weapon (11 women); (d) one traumatic incident involving firearms (12 women); and (e) firearm threats or used throughout the relationship (7 women). Practice and policy options are presented for forensic and clinical social workers, shelter workers and police officers.