CHANA applauds the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to prevent domestic abusers who are under protective orders from owning a gun.
According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, every 12 hours someone is shot and killed by an intimate partner. Access to a firearm in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
The Supreme Court’s recent decision in United States v. Rahimi upheld the federal law prohibiting individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders from possessing, receiving, shipping, or transporting firearms or ammunition.
This was the right decision: Around 4.5 million women in the United States have been threatened with a gun, and nearly 1 million women have been shot or shot at by an intimate partner. Over half of all intimate partner homicides are committed with guns. (Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.)
CHANA is dedicated to the elimination of domestic violence, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, elder abuse, and all forms of interpersonal violence. We listen, counsel, support, and guide victims and
survivors of abuse. At every point, we advocate for community awareness, safety, and healing.
While this important decision was a critical step, more can be done to help prevent abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out.