In response to the Supreme Court ruling upholding the federal prohibition preventing individuals subject to Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs) from owning or purchasing guns, Beth Hassett, CEO of WEAVE shared:

“Today, the Supreme Court of the United States prioritized the safety of victims of domestic violence, their families, and our communities by maintaining the legal policy that prevents people subject to Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs) from possessing firearms. We know that DVROs are an essential tool for victims and the firearm prohibition is a critical protection available through that tool. Keeping the law intact is only the first step. It is vital that    courts and law enforcement take swift action to remove guns when domestic violence occurs and that we continue to ensure perpetrators do not gain access to firearms after they become prohibited.”

The ruling acknowledges that guns must be kept away from people who commit acts of domestic violence, as the presence of a firearm exponentially increases the likelihood of lethality in abusive situations. Research shows that a woman is five times more likely to be killed if the intimate partner has access to a weapon (National Library of Medicine, 2003) and Black women are twice as likely to be shot and killed by an intimate partner in comparison to white women (Centers for Disease Control, 2017). The ruling keeps communities safer – half of mass shootings include the murder of a domestic partner (Giffords) and two-thirds of mass shootings have a connection to domestic violence (The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence).

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic violence, help is available through WEAVE. Our 24/7 Support & Information Line at 916-920-2952 and online chat at www.weaveinc.org are always available.