A study that examined the risk factors for violent death for women in
the home found that when there were one or more guns in the home, the
risk of suicide among women increased nearly five times and the risk
of homicide increased more than three times. The increased risk of
homicide associated with firearms was attributable to homicides at the
hands of a spouse, intimate acquaintance, or close relative.

http://www.vpc.org/fact_sht/domviofs.htm