Former Bush administration White House press secretary Dana Perino has some advice for female victims of violence: In order to avoid getting hurt, “make better decisions.” The co-host of Fox News’ “The Five” made the eyebrow-raising, victim-blaming remark Wednesday during a segment about Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Javon Belcher, the NFL player who allegedly murdered his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, before driving to Arrowhead Stadium and killing himself last weekend.

Another host argued that tragedies like this could be avoided if women involved in domestic violence situations had guns.

“I think it skirts the issue. Women are victims of violence all the time,” said Perino.

Co-host Greg Gutfeld responded, “[They] should have guns!”

“Well, maybe, or make better decisions,” she replied.

As Think Progress noted: Perino’s comments are a reminder of the importance of the Violence Against Women Act, a bill that plays a vital role in protecting women from violence, particularly intimate partner violence like that between Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend. The third reauthorization of VAWA is currently languishing in Congress, stuck between the updated version that passed the Senate (which includes protections for LGBT and undocumented domestic violence victims), and the House’s slimmed down reauthorization. Read more

— Posted by Tracy Bloom.