Which of the following is an indicator of firearm access relevant to IPV risk assessment?

• A. Firearms present in home
• B. The survivor's fear of firearm availability enabling harm
• C. The couple's favorite hobby
• D. The abuser's preferred cuisine

Answer: (A)

Firearm access in risk assessment hinges on whether firearms are actually in the home and within the abuser’s reach. The presence of firearms signals concrete opportunity for use, which markedly raises the risk of lethal violence and should prompt urgent safety planning, including options for removing or securing weapons and coordinating with authorities or DV resources as appropriate.

Having firearms in the home is the clearest indicator of access because it shows that both the survivor and the abuser could access a weapon. The survivor’s fear about firearms enabling harm matters for shaping safety concerns, but it reflects perception and anxiety rather than verifiable access. The couple’s hobbies or the abuser’s cuisine are unrelated to firearm access and do not inform risk in this domain.