Which statement best describes impulsivity in murders with respect to weapon availability?

• A. Murders using knives are never impulsive.
• B. Impulsivity is not related to weapon choice.
• C. Murders using whatever weapon is readily available tend to be more impulsive and may indicate the killer lives near the victim.
• D. Murders with a gun are always impulsive.

Answer: (C)

Impulsivity in murder is about acting on a sudden urge with little planning. When a weapon is readily accessible, an offender can strike quickly, making the act more impulsive rather than premeditated. This pattern is also consistent with the idea that the killer may live near the victim, since proximity increases access to a weapon and the opportunity to act without much preparation. So, using whatever weapon is at hand tends to reflect impulsive violence driven by opportunity and nearby access.

The other statements don’t fit as well. Knives can be used impulsively, weapon choice is not completely independent of impulsivity, and gun murders are not always impulsive—some can be planned.