The Violence Against Women Act is up for renewal.
Last December the bill expired, and in early March an improved version was introduced. The original included barring individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses against their spouses or family members from owning firearms, and the new version would also prohibit individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking offenses from owning or purchasing firearms.
This would expand the ban to include individuals who abuse their dating partners and close the “boyfriend loophole.”
The NRA opposes this expansion because it expands the list of misdemeanor convictions that result in permanent firearm prohibitions.
It intends to issue a “key vote” alert to warn members of Congress that their vote on the legislation will be scored and included in their NRA rating.
The re-authorization bill would make it illegal for individuals subject to temporary protective orders to own a firearm which goes beyond the past prohibition where only abusers subject to permanent protective orders lose the right to own or buy a gun.
According to one study, domestic violence victims are 5 times more likely to be killed if their abuser has access to a gun, or one victim every 16 hours.
John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety das stated,
“You can’t reduce violence against American women without also reducing gun violence. Lawmakers must pass the Violence Against Women Act, which will make it harder for abusers to get armed and easier for law enforcement to protect victims.”
In early March House Republicans also tried to repeal a major VAWA provision that helps tribes respond to violence against Native American women by non-Native men on tribal land, but they failed.
We will see if the members of Congress side with the NRA or women.