Evaluation of role of the personal gun ownership on femicide with the opinions of the experts in the field

According to the official figures in Turkey, the number of femicide cases in 2016, 2017 and 2018 are 301, 350 and 281, respectively (Taştan and Küçüker Yıldız, 2019: 2). Bianet report on male violence reveals that the number of femicide cases in Turkey in the same years are 261, 290 and 255 (Bianet Report on Male Violence; 2016, 2017 and 2018). The official figures on personal gun ownership shows that 52,8% of femicide cases between 2016-2018 were committed by using firearms; 83,9% of these guns are unregistered and only 16% of them are registered (Taştan ve Küçüker Yıldız, 2019: 4). Studies on risk assessment reveal that personal gun ownership increases the risk of femicide (Campbell et all., 2003; Caman et all., 2016; Stöckl et all., 2013) and measures related to gun ownership must be taken to prevent femicide (Campbell et all., 2000 and 2003; Stöckl et all., 2013). The aim of this study is to reveal the current situation by conducting interviews with the representatives of state institutions/NGOs and organisations that are responsible for gun registry as well as prevention of domestic violence and personal gun ownership and to contribute to the solutions related to prevention of femicide cases committed by firearms. In this context, the law enforcement units responsible for firearms registry and the domestic violence units affiliated to law enforcement, academicians, public prosecutors, judges from family court, advocates, NGOs and media organs are interviewed. This thesis is conducted as a qualitative research and semi-structured in-depth interview method is used. This study concludes that all stakeholder must embrace a common definition and perception about femicide phenomenon, the risk assessment tool that is already in use should be improved and used by every stakeholder that will step in during any kind of violence against women, gender based data should be collected and made public by public institutions on a systematic basis, the Law no. 6284 should be fully implemented. Besides, media organs should be more sensitive about the language used in the news about femicide and violence against women. All stakeholders should act in line with gender equality to improve public awareness.