Table 3.
Respondent risk factors
| Cases (n=202)* n (%) |
|
| Prior violence† | |
| Self-directed violence, behaviour | 11 (5.4) |
| Self-directed violence, threat/ideation | 30 (14.9) |
| Intimate partner violence, behaviour | 21 (10.4) |
| Intimate partner violence, threat/ideation | 12 (5.9) |
| Other-directed violence (not intimate partner), behaviour | 14 (6.9) |
| Other-directed violence (not intimate partner), threat/ideation | 19 (9.4) |
| Harming animals | 2 (1.0) |
| Health-related risk factors‡ | |
| Substance use | 69 (34.2) |
| GVRO-related | 54 (26.7) |
| Background risk | 32 (15.8) |
| Mental illness (named diagnosis) | 40 (19.8) |
| GVRO-related | 25 (12.4) |
| Background risk | 22 (10.9) |
| Undifferentiated paranoia/psychosis/hallucination | 22 (10.9) |
| GVRO-related | 20 (9.9) |
| Background risk | 10 (5.0) |
| Physical health problems | 18 (8.9) |
| GVRO-related | 6 (3.0) |
| Background risk | 14 (6.9) |
| Dementia/cognitive impairment | 3 (1.5) |
| GVRO-related | 2 (1.0) |
| Background risk | 2 (1.0) |
| Not adhering to prescription medication regime at the time of the GVRO | 8 (4.0) |
| Criminal legal system contact | |
| Prior police contact with arrest/charges | 43 (21.3) |
| Prior police contact without arrest/charges | 28 (13.9) |
| Current restraining/protective orders | 7 (3.5) |
| Prior restraining/protective orders | 3 (1.5) |
| Social/structural risk factors‡ | |
| Loss/relationship problems, intimate partner | 46 (22.8) |
| GVRO-related | 42 (20.8) |
| Background risk | 23 (11.4) |
| Unemployment/employment problems | 24 (11.9) |
| GVRO-related | 13 (6.4) |
| Background risk | 13 (6.4) |
| Loss/relationship problems, not intimate partner | 16 (7.9) |
| GVRO-related | 8 (4.0) |
| Background risk | 11 (5.4) |
| Social isolation/alienation | 9 (4.5) |
| GVRO-related | 4 (2.0) |
| Background risk | 6 (3.0) |
| Housing instability | 7 (3.5) |
| GVRO-related | 4 (2.0) |
| Background risk | 5 (2.5) |
| Engagement with hate groups/propaganda | 6 (3.0) |
| GVRO-related | 4 (2.0) |
| Background risk | 3 (1.5) |
*201 unique respondents; one person had two distinct GVROs. These risk factors were coded as (1) if present and otherwise left blank (0), so we cannot distinguish between ‘no’ and ‘unknown’.
†Prior violence refers to violence that occurred before the GVRO inciting event. Violent behaviours are actions that cause harm or could cause harm, such as cutting or hitting. Violent threats are threats that are communicated to others (eg, verbally, in writing, in pictures). Violent ideations are thoughts about harming others or one’s self.
‡In contrast to GVRO-related risk factors, background risk factors are not directly related to the GVRO inciting event.
GVRO, gun violence restraining order.