Everytown and Battered Women’s Justice Project Submit Amicus Brief to Minnesota Supreme Court

Everytown and BWJP argue that domestic violence homicides can be foreseeable, especially when abusers have access to a gun, and that health care providers should ask about firearms access when working with patients at risk of harming themselves or others.

Brian Short shot and killed his wife and three children before killing himself. He was experiencing acute psychiatric distress and was at risk of harming himself and others. Nevertheless, and contrary to its own policy, his mental health care provider did not ask about firearms access or develop a safety plan. Everytown and BWJP submitted this brief to provide factual context about the prevalence of domestic violence and the increased lethality risks when firearms are present.

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