RFA-CE-23-006, Preventing firearm-related harm through Domestic Violence Protection Order firearm prohibitions and relinquishment

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Domestic violence (DV) and its most common form intimate partner violence (IPV) are substantial public health and safety problems with lasting consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Firearms play a consequential role in perpetuating harm in DV and IPV, and this harm is disproportionately experienced by American Indian / Alaska Native, Black, and multiracial women. Individuals subject to Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) are prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms according to federal law, but these prohibitions are not consistently implemented or enforced across the United States. Some states, including Washington state, have enacted similar prohibitions. These state-level DVPO firearm prohibitions may reduce firearm-related crime, injury, and death, but rigorous, individual-level evaluations are needed, particularly to examine whether these prohibitions can reduce firearm-related harm among American Indian / Alaska Native, Black, and multiracial women. We propose a project in response to “Research Grants to Rigorously Evaluate Innovative and Promising Strategies to Prevent Firearm-related Violence and Injuries” using Funding Option B and directly addressing the purpose and scope indicated on the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The overarching goal of this proposal is to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of DVPO firearm prohibitions in reducing subsequent firearm-related crime, injury, and death of victim-survivors / petitioners, protected minors, and respondents. We will collect new data on around 12,500 DVPOs and firearm-related harm in Washington State as part of a multi-county population cohort study. Using a public health promotion and policy research framework in collaboration with a team of interdisciplinary researchers with expertise in DV and IPV, epidemiology of firearm injury, public policy, causal inference and applied econometrics, law, public health, criminal legal system disparities, and sociology, we will: characterize firearm relinquishment by respondents before and after implementation of DVPO firearm prohibition policy (Aim 1); assess the effectiveness of DVPO firearm prohibitions in reducing firearm-related harm (Aim 2); evaluate the effect of DVPO firearm prohibition policy implementation on firearm-related injury, crime, and death by race (Aim 3); and quantify the impact of verified firearm relinquishment on firearm-related harm (Aim 4). Both quantitative (e.g., differences-in-differences design policy evaluation, complier average causal effects) and qualitative methods (e.g., thematic analysis) will be used to address these aims. Identifying the impact of firearm removal on firearm-related harm is of great importance, particularly in the context of DVPOs where firearms escalate the risk of fatal harm. We will leverage our existing academic-practice partnerships to achieve our goals. This innovative project will generate new qualitative and quantitative findings on DVPO firearm prohibitions and their potential to prevent firearm-related injury, violent crime, and death when enacted, implemented, and enforced.