/k/ stops domestic violence

The biggest killers of on duty cops are traffic related- traffic stops, being hit by cars, getting in an accident etc; being ambushed and killed out of nowhere while not doing any direct enforcement. Of DISPATCHED calls, domestic violence calls have the highest incidence of death for officers. About a fifth of officers who die on dispatched calls will die in domestic violence calls- but compared to total in duty deaths from all causes, it is certainly not the most dangerous situation. In abstract to possible situations an officer may face it is also again- not most dangerous.

But domestic violence interventions tend to be pretty dangerous. Would I walk in and break up such a situation between strangers? I have, so yes I would. But if you’re factoring in wether a person is or isn’t carrying a gun to breaking up a domestic violence dispute- I think your head is on screwy. A gun isn’t the weapon for close up work of it comes to that- and breaking up such a dispute you’ll likely be in close if things go bad. But beyond that- the mentality should be de escalation- guns do not tend to de escalate situations.

But 20 odd percent of officer fatalities responding to domestic issues end up dead and they all have guns. So I don’t see how being a gun owner factors in. Having sufficient back up and wearing armor are the best passive safety tools for a situation like that, the best active tool is to have your physical and mental training locked in and be alert at all times, and to have the skills and know how polished up to hopefully avoid needing the other 3.