What type of weapon possession increases the severity of a DVPO violation?

Possessing a deadly weapon significantly increases the severity of a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) violation because it poses a greater threat to the victim's safety. Deadly weapons, which can include firearms or any other items used in a manner that is likely to cause serious bodily injury or death, escalate the level of risk involved in the violation of a DVPO. This heightened danger can lead to more serious legal repercussions for the violator, reflecting the heightened seriousness of the act in a domestic violence context.

In contrast, non-lethal weapons do not have the same level of potential harm, thus not impacting the classification of the violation as severely. The classification of a DVPO violation would generally remain the same regardless of whether other types of weapons are involved. Firearms, while extremely dangerous, are encapsulated under the broader category of deadly weapons, meaning that the presence of any deadly weapon can elevate the incident's severity. Therefore, the recognition that deadly weapons increase the severity of a DVPO violation is based on the understanding of the degree of danger they represent to individuals involved in domestic violence situations.