WASHINGTON - Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of existing protections for victims of domestic violence. The brief, which was filed in United States v. Rahimi, highlights the history of bipartisan support for common sense limits on the ability of domestic abusers to access firearms and the harms that invalidating those restrictions would cause.
“As a former prosecutor, I’ve seen firsthand the serious emotional and physical toll domestic violence can take on victims, particularly when a gun is involved,” said Klobuchar. “Victims of domestic abuse and their families deserve peace of mind and certainty that their abuser will not have access to firearms. There is a decades-long history of bipartisan support for these common sense and lifesaving protections. Therefore the Supreme Court must reject any argument that would pull the rug out from under these victims and lead to serious harm or death.”
“The data on firearms and domestic abuse is clear. We know perpetrators of violence use firearms to exert power and control over their victims, and access to a firearm increases the risk of intimate partner homicide at least five-fold. The Fifth Circuit court decision will cost lives,” Dingell said. “Survivors with protection orders deserve full protection and safety under the law, and we have a responsibility to provide that peace of mind and safety by keeping weapons out of the hands of their abusers, as is currently the law.”
“I’m proud to lead this bipartisan amicus brief that makes clear that there exists strong congressional intent and history supporting restrictions on domestic abusers from obtaining firearms,” said Fitzpatrick. “It is possible to support the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens while ensuring that firearms are not in the hands of dangerous, violent individuals like domestic abusers.”
The full brief is available HERE.
Klobuchar has long led efforts to prevent gun violence. Provisions from her bill with Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) to close the ‘boyfriend loophole’ and prevent abusive dating partners from buying or owning firearms were included in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed into law by President Biden last year.
In February, Klobuchar, Dingell, and Fitzpatrick introduced updated bipartisan, bicameral legislation to strengthen provisions closing the ‘boyfriend loophole.’ The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act prevents convicted stalkers and all former dating partners convicted of a domestic violence offense from buying or owning firearms, regardless of when the relationship occurred.
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