Washington (USA): On Friday, gun control advocates and domestic abuse victims' rights organizations applauded a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld a federal ban preventing individuals under domestic violence restraining orders from owning firearms.


In the 8-1 decision of U.S. v. Rahimi, the Court determined that federal and state laws barring domestic abusers from temporarily possessing firearms do not infringe upon the Second Amendment. This ruling follows several recent decisions by the conservative-leaning Court that have curtailed gun control measures.


Janet Carter, Senior Director of Issues and Appeals at the gun control nonprofit Everytown Law, hailed the ruling as a positive development, though she emphasized the need for continued efforts to curb gun violence. "Our nation has been at a critical juncture, with the safety of domestic violence survivors at stake. Today’s ruling is a step toward protecting millions from their abusers," she stated.


La’Shea Cretain, a volunteer with Everytown and a survivor of domestic violence, expressed relief over the decision, citing her own harrowing experience profiled by ABC News. Cretain, who remains with five bullets in her body after a violent encounter with her ex-boyfriend, believes the ruling will significantly impact other survivors. "The reversal of the Fifth Circuit’s extreme ruling in Rahimi means fewer children will witness the horrors of gun violence inflicted by abusers," she said.


Former Arizona Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a shooting in 2011 and now leads the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, echoed these sentiments. Her organization noted that women in the U.S. are 21 times more likely to be killed with a firearm than women in other high-income nations. "This is a victory for women, children, and anyone who has suffered from domestic abuse. Women deserve to live free from the fear of gun violence," Giffords declared.


While gun control proponents see this decision as a potential precursor to similar laws and restrictions on firearms for dangerous individuals, the National Rifle Association (NRA) views the ruling differently. Randy Kozuch, the NRA's Executive Director, stated on X that the decision is limited, asserting, "The ruling only holds that an individual posing a clear threat may be temporarily disarmed following a judicial finding of dangerousness." Kozuch emphasized that the decision does not endorse red flag laws or other contested gun control measures that the NRA opposes.


Kelly Roskam, Director of Law and Policy at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, highlighted research showing that armed domestic abusers pose threats beyond their intimate partners, affecting public safety at large. "Studies indicate that laws disarming these individuals are effective in reducing intimate partner homicides. It is crucial to maintain these protections," she commented.


President Joe Biden, a fervent advocate for gun control, pledged to continue supporting policies that prevent domestic violence perpetrators from obtaining firearms. Citing legislative efforts like the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and the recent Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which addresses the "boyfriend loophole," Biden reaffirmed his commitment. "No one who has been abused should fear their abuser gaining access to a gun. Today's ruling ensures that survivors and their families will continue to have vital protections as they have for the past thirty years," he stated.