Domestic violence is a rampant issue in Houston, accounting for about 40% of deaths in the city, according to Lieutenant John Klafka from the Harris County Sheriff\u2019s Department. <\/p>\n
Gun violence is a major contributor to this statistic. In fact, the mere presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the chances of lethality by five times, according to the National Institute of Health.<\/p>\n
A local nonprofit, the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, sought to address this problem in 2018 with the creation of their gun surrender program. Made in conjunction with the Harris County Sheriff\u2019s Office, this program was the first of its kind in Houston and among only 10 others in the state. <\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the high lethality risks is does the offender have access to a weapon or do they have a weapon, and do they know how to use it?\u201d HCDVCC Director of Communications Amy Smith said in a conversation with KPRC 2. \u201cWhat we do know is that most domestic violence homicides occur by firearm. If there\u2019s a firearm in the house. It is more likely that it could result in a homicide.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prior to the advent of HCDVCC\u2019s program, there was no enforcement mechanism in place for when abusers were asked to surrender their guns after protective orders were filed against them. <\/p>\n
With no government program in place, abusers were told to give their guns to a \u201cfriend\u201d or \u201cfamily member\u201d during the years the protective order was active against them. This gave rise to a multitude of issues, as those friends and family members were not always reliable at keeping the guns away from their owners.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome may have given [their guns] to a friend or family member to hold while they had this protective order, but most of them just didn\u2019t really do anything.\u201d Smith said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s why we gave them an opportunity to make sure they were complying with conditions of their protective order as well as the, you know, as well with the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
HCDVCC\u2019s gun surrender program offers an alternate avenue in which these guns are surrendered to police officers at the sheriff\u2019s office, who store the weapons for the duration of the protective order.<\/p>\n
Officers believe that this program has played a role in decreasing lethality rates of domestic abuse in Houston, even if only in a small way.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had many people that come in here that are scared \u2014 the victims are scared \u2014 and removing that gun removes some of the fear,\u201d Lieutenant Klafka said to KPRC 2. \u201c[This program] helps add a layer of protection.\u201d<\/p>\n
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