OTTAWA — Intimate partner violence involving firearms has seen a dramatic spike in Canada over the last several years compared to the previous decade, according to a disturbing new report released by Statistics Canada on Wednesday.
The data reveals that the average annual rate of firearm-related intimate partner violence was 58 per cent higher between 2020 and 2024 than it was between 2010 and 2014. While guns are not present in the majority of domestic abuse cases, Public Safety Canada emphasized that when a firearm is introduced, the incident becomes five times more likely to end in a fatality.
Women, Girls, and Youth Bearing the Brunt
The report underscores that women and girls aged 12 and older account for the vast majority—85 per cent—of the victims in these crimes. Notably, the highest rates of firearm-related domestic violence were recorded among young people between the ages of 18 and 24.
Experts point out a shifting dynamic in domestic abuse patterns across Canada. While historically these incidents were most frequently reported among married couples, statistics show those numbers have declined, while gun-related violence between unmarried dating partners is steadily climbing.
Between 2009 and 2024, shootings accounted for one in five intimate partner homicides, making it the second most common cause of death after stabbings. Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director of Battered Women’s Support Services in Vancouver, warned that the period during or immediately following a separation is the most volatile window for victims.
Geographic and Weapon Trends
The threat is heavily stratified by geography, with firearm-related intimate partner violence being nearly three times more prevalent in rural areas than inside major cities. Territorially, the highest provincial and regional rates were documented across the Prairies and northern territories. Additionally, handguns have recently overtaken traditional rifles and shotguns as the primary weapon used in these offenses.
Prior Police Contact and Legal Loopholes
The data exposes a significant pattern of repeat offenses. Of the 923 individuals accused of firearm-related domestic violence in 2024, two-thirds (66 per cent) had a criminal record within the previous six years. Furthermore, 36 per cent had already been accused of intimate partner violence in the past. Even more concerning, in cases where the abuse turned fatal, a history of domestic violence was already known to law enforcement in 44 per cent of the shootings.
While Canada updated its firearms legislation in 2023 to include “red flag” provisions—allowing individuals to apply for an emergency prohibition order to temporarily strip an abuser of their weapons and license—advocates say significant gaps remain. Legal experts argue that while the law provides for the automatic revocation of a firearms license when a domestic protection order is active, the federal government has yet to bring in the necessary operational regulations to aggressively enforce it.
