Supreme Court Rules on Guns and Domestic Violence

Advocates for gun control are praising the Supreme Court’s recent ruling affirming that anyone who has a restraining order issued against them due to domestic violence (DV). This prohibition will be a huge step in protecting survivors of domestic violence, as the Court’s ruling solidifies the idea that restricting guns when it comes to dangerous people is not in conflict with the Second Amendment.

What Brought the Issue to Light?

 As of 1994, there’s been a federal ban on possessing firearms for people who have a domestic violence restraining order. But that law was challenged when Zackey Rahimi, who was restricted from having a gun, was involved in multiple shootings, one of which occurred at a burger joint. Rahimi, who was apparently upset at the denial of his friend’s credit card, shot into the air. Rahimi was then convicted of violating the gun law. But he appealed the conviction, and it was overturned.  Ultimately, the case made it to the Supreme Court, where an 8-1 decision was in favor of sustaining the law.

DV and Guns

Victims of abuse are threatened and coerced with guns all too often. Sometimes, those threats turn into actual shootings, with 1 million women alive right now reporting that they’ve been shot at by their intimate partners. That’s likely just a quarter of the number who are threatened with guns in the first place.Studies show that when abusers have guns in their homes, women are 500 percent more likely to be killed by their abuser. Additionally, we know that when victims are killed by abusers, guns are the weapon of choice. In fact, roughly 70 lives are lost every month when an intimate partner uses a gun to murder their partner. That makes it clear that the Supreme Court ruling is a huge victory for survivors of domestic violence.

Who is Impacted? 

On top of victims and their abusers, the list of those impacted by domestic violence is long.  First and foremost, children suffer the effects of DV, particularly when guns are involved. Beyond that, other family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and law enforcement officers all feel the devastating impacts of DV and guns. The ripple effects go on to touch schools, churches, and other organizations within communities.

Defending Victims 

Laws restricting gun ownership can help—with one in eight potential gun purchases that are denied being related to a history of DV.  Beyond that, there are community resources, legal actions, and practical steps that can support victims.  At the Law Office of Julia Kefalinos, our Miami domestic violence attorneys will help you utilize the legal tools available to protect yourself and your family. To discuss your options, schedule a confidential consultation in our Miami office today.

Source:

cnn.com/2024/06/21/politics/supreme-court-guns-rahimi/index.html