This month, lawmakers in Maryland are considering legislation aimed at enhancing protections for victims of domestic violence by mandating that abusers relinquish their firearms within two days of conviction. If passed, this bill would empower judges to summon a convicted abuser back to court within five days to verify that they have surrendered their weapons.
Recently, Oregon took a significant step by closing the so-called “boyfriend loophole,” which previously allowed certain convicted domestic abusers—those who were not married to or did not have children with their victims—to retain their firearms. Although the state had barred individuals with domestic violence or stalking convictions from gun ownership since 2015, this new measure fortifies protections for women potentially at risk from abusive partners. As House Majority Leader Anna Carter emphasized, “An individual who commits violence against their partner is just as culpable whether they are married or not.”
For most people, the idea that domestic abusers should be required to surrender their guns is entirely reasonable. While federal regulations already prohibit gun possession among certain domestic abusers, state laws are essential to ensure that these individuals actually give up their firearms. Alarmingly, only 15 out of the 50 states have enacted laws requiring abusers subject to final domestic violence restraining orders to hand over their weapons. This creates a dangerous loophole.
Women are disproportionately affected by this issue. In the U.S., intimate partners kill women at alarming rates, and women are 11 times more likely to be murdered with firearms than their counterparts in other high-income nations. The presence of a gun in a domestic violence scenario increases the risk of homicide for women by a staggering 500 percent. An estimated 4.5 million American women have faced threats with firearms from intimate partners.
Moreover, there is a troubling link between a history of domestic violence and the likelihood of future violent acts, including mass shootings. As experts Pamela Shifman and Salamishah Tillet noted in a New York Times article, “Men who commit violence rehearse and perfect it against their families first.” This chilling reality emphasizes the importance of ensuring that abusers are stripped of their access to firearms not only for the sake of their victims but for public safety as a whole.
Research indicates that laws restricting firearm access for individuals with domestic violence restraining orders can lead to a 25 percent decrease in intimate partner gun homicides. Additionally, studies have shown that when judges mandate abusers to surrender their weapons, compliance rates increase significantly.
It is crucial to advocate for gun control measures, not just in the aftermath of preventable tragedies, but consistently at local and state levels. Together, we can create an unstoppable movement for change. It’s imperative that we vote with the understanding that the safety of our loved ones is on the line.
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In summary, it is vital that we enforce laws requiring domestic abusers to surrender their firearms. This legislative change is not only a protective measure for victims but also a necessary step in safeguarding our communities from potential violence.