Ranked behind Louisiana were: Alaska at number, two with a rate of 2.44 per 100,000; Wyoming at number three, with a rate of 2.33 per 100,000; Arkansas at number four with a rate of 2.29 per 100,000; Nevada at number five, with a rate of 2.23 per 100,000; Alabama at number six with a rate of 2.22 per 100,000; New Mexico at number seven with a rate of 2.21 per 100,000; South Carolina at number eight with a rate of 2.04 per 100,000; Oklahoma at number nine with a rate of 2.03 per 100,000; and, Arizona at number 10 with a rate of 1.92 per 100,000. Nationally, the rate of women killed by men in single victim/single offender instances was 1.30 per 100,000.

Nationwide, 1,865 females were murdered by males in single victim/single offender incidents in 2007. Where weapon use could be determined, firearms were the most common weapon used by males to murder females (847 of 1,657 homicides or 51 percent). Of these, 76 percent (640 of 847) were committed with handguns.

In cases where the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 91 percent of female victims (1,587 out of 1,743) were murdered by someone they knew. Of these, 62 percent (990 out of 1,587) were wives or intimate acquaintances of their killers. More than 10 times as many females were murdered by a male they knew than were killed by male strangers. In 88 percent of all incidents where the circumstances could be determined, the homicides were not related to the commission of any other felony, such as rape or robbery.

The report offered some sobering statistics about incidents of fatal domestic violence against African-American women.

"Compared to a Black man, a Black woman is far more likely to be killed by her spouse, an intimate acquaintance, or a family member than by a stranger," the report says. "Where the relationship could be determined, 99 percent of Black females killed by males in single victim/single offender incidents knews their killers (464 of 527). More than seven times as many Black females were murdered by a male they knew (464 victims) than were killed by male strangers (64 victims) in single victim/single offender incidents in 2007. Of Black victims who knew their offenders, 58 percent (268 out of 464) were wives, common-law wives, ex-wives or girlfriends of the offenders. Ninety-one percent (527 out of 579) of the homicides of Black women where the race of the male offender was known were intra-racial," or Black-on-Black murder.

"The overwhelming majority of homicides of Black females in single victim/single offender incidents in 2007 were not related to any other felony crime," the report continues. "Most often, Black females were killed by males in the course of an argument - most commonly with a firearm. In 2007, for the 473 homicides in which the circumstances between the Black female victim and the male offender could be identified, 85 percent (404 out of 473) were not related to the commission of any other felony.

"Nearly two-thirds of nonfelony-related homicides (251 out of 404) involved arguments between the Black female victim and the male offender. Fifty-seven percent (142 victims) were shot and killed with guns during those arguments."

WAFB News reported last week that in Baton Rouge the demand for domestic abuse help is on the rise.

Calls to the crisis hotline have gone up 17 percent over the past several years, according to WAFB  But money to support Baston Rouge-based Zonta House, the Capital area domestic violence shelter, was cut. Executive Director Martha Forbes, who has been with Zonta House for seven years, says as long as Louisiana stays at the top of this list, it's not feasible to cut corners.

"For 2006, Louisiana ranked number three," she told WAFB. "Now, using 2007 statistics, Louisiana ranks number one."

Earlier this month, four people - Donna O'Berry, Dennis Wayne Carter Jr., and two-year-old Mason Carter were killed by Dennis Wayne Carter Sr. Carter Sr. also killed himself. Livingston De­puties said Carter Sr. also had a history of domestic violence.

While the need is there, the money to help fund programs to help victims is not. Forbes told WAFB that the Jindal administration cut between $30,000 to $60,000 from their budget.

"But with the budget cuts and need for services going up its, we're on the edge," she said.

She says Zonta House now deals with hearings for protective orders on a weekly basis. Temporary restraining orders are up 14 to 17 percent. Forbes also says women are likely to go through eight acts of violence before calling the police, increasing crisis calls by 17 percent.

But Forbes says she is determined that those who want the help will get it.

"We have 20 families in the shelter," she told WAFB. "We have 21 bedrooms.  There's another person who called the crisis line, who may be on her way.  When the 22nd family calls, we will provide a space."

Forbes says Louisiana's top ranking by the VPC study will be used as an education tool., especially since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.    She says her job is basically to stop murders.

The Violence Policy Center study contends that getting a gun is not the answer when domestic violence is the problem.

"Many women - those in abusive relationships, those who have left such relationships, those who fear, in general, for their safety - have considered bringing a gun into their home as a measure of protection," the report says. "Yet, gun ownership contains clear risks that should deeply concern women. One study that examines the risk factors of violent death for women in the home in three United States counties found that when there were one or more guns in the home, the risk of homicide increased more than there times. The increased risk of homicide associated with firearms was attributable to homicides at the hands of a spouse, intimate acquaintance or close relative. Furthermore, a gun in the home is a key factor in the escalation of nonfatal spousal abuse to homicide. In a study of family and intimate assaults for the city of Atlanta, firearm-associated family and intimate assaults were 12 times more likely to result in death than nonfirearm-associated assaults between family and intimates."

"The picture that emerges from 'When Men Murder Women' is that women face the greatest threat from someone they know, most often a spouse or intimate acquaintance, who is armed with a gun," the study concludes. "For women in America, guns are not used to save lives, but to take them."

This article was originally published in the September 28, 2009 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper