This month, lawmakers in Maryland are pushing for crucial legislation aimed at enhancing protections for victims of domestic violence. The proposed bill would mandate that individuals convicted of domestic abuse relinquish their firearms within 48 hours of their conviction. Furthermore, it would allow judges to summon offenders back to court within five days to verify that they have surrendered their weapons.
Just last month, Oregon successfully closed the “boyfriend loophole,” which previously permitted certain convicted domestic abusers—those who weren’t married to or didn’t have children with their victims—to retain their firearms. While the state had banned gun ownership for individuals with domestic violence or stalking convictions since 2015, this new legislation ensures broader protection for victims of non-marital partners. “Assaulting a boyfriend or girlfriend is just as serious as assaulting a spouse,” emphasized State Representative Laura Thompson (D) during a recent interview.
To many people, it seems obvious that domestic abusers should be required to give up their weapons. Although federal law prohibits gun possession by specific domestic abusers, the responsibility falls on state laws to enforce the surrender of firearms. Alarmingly, only 15 out of 50 states currently mandate that abusers with final domestic violence restraining orders turn in their guns. This leaves a significant gap in protection, as federal law may prevent convicted abusers from acquiring new firearms, but 35 states lack effective laws to ensure they relinquish firearms they already own.
Women are paying the highest price for this deadly loophole. In the U.S., women are murdered by intimate partners at staggering rates, with studies indicating they are 11 times more likely to be killed by guns than women in other high-income countries. The presence of a firearm in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide for women by an astounding 500 percent. Abusers frequently use guns to intimidate and control their victims, even if they never actually fire the weapon. Approximately 4.5 million women in America have reported being threatened with a gun by an intimate partner.
There is also a concerning link between a history of domestic violence and future violent behavior, including mass shootings. As experts Pamela Shifman and Salamishah Tillet pointed out in a New York Times article, “Men who commit violence rehearse and perfect it against their families first.” This pattern of violence often escalates, as seen in several mass shootings where perpetrators had prior accusations or convictions for domestic violence—like the tragic cases of Omar Mateen and Robert Lewis Dear.
It is not just about protecting victims; enforcing the surrender of firearms from convicted abusers is crucial for public safety. Research indicates that cities in states with stricter gun control laws for individuals with domestic violence restraining orders experience a 25 percent decline in intimate partner gun homicides. Additionally, a study found that when judges ordered abusers to surrender their firearms, compliance rates improved.
We must advocate for gun control continuously, not just after tragic events. It’s essential to raise our voices at local and state levels and call for change, joining forces until we become an unstoppable movement. Every vote counts, and we must act as if our loved ones’ lives depend on it—because they do.
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Summary
The necessity for abusers to surrender firearms is underscored by recent legislative efforts in Maryland and Oregon aimed at protecting domestic violence victims. With alarming statistics regarding intimate partner homicides and the correlation between domestic violence and mass shootings, it is imperative that states enforce stricter laws to ensure abusers relinquish their weapons. Advocacy for gun control must remain persistent as we work towards a safer society for everyone.
Keyphrase: Abusers Must Surrender Firearms
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