In most areas, Texans are very proud to rank in the top ten of the nation.  But in one new report, our score is worrisome. In terms of women being murdered by men, we rank number 6.
 

The Violence Policy Center has been tracking this troubling phenomenon for a decade now, and although the national trends look promising, for Texans, it’s nothing to be proud of.
 

It’s the latest report from the Center, a non-profit advocacy group, who admittedly are not fond of the current availability of firearms in this country. But that issue aside, their snapshot of the toll of domestic violence is sobering.
 

Texas ranks 6th in the nation in the numbers of women killed by men.
 

In 2008, 209 women died in homicides not related to another crime.
 

In 90% of the cases, they knew their killer.
 

“The majority of these homicides are related to domestic violence,” said Kristen Rand, Director of the Violence Policy Center. “And virtually all the women are killed by someone they know. Sometimes people misinterpret the real threats to them, particularly if you’re a woman. And you’re greatest threat is often an intimate partner.”
 

The victims were predominantly white, and most were killed with guns or knives. The usual cause…an argument.
 

“The usual scenario,” she explained, “is someone arguing with someone they know. Often times it’s a domestic violence situation that escalates to homicide.”
 

But Rand suggests one remedy that could dilute the deadly potential of a bitter argument…
 

“When a protective order is issued, or when there’s a new conviction,” Rand said, “it’s up to judges to take that next step and insure that the person who already owns guns, that they are removed from the home.”
 

Texas doesn’t do that yet, but three states, Hawaii, Massachusetts and New Jersey remove guns from abusers by law, and they rank 23rd, 44th, and 31st in the study.
 

By the way, the number one murder state is Nevada. The safest is New Hampshire.