Supreme Court Defends Law Barring Domestic Abusers from Owning Guns
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In a landmark Second Amendment ruling, the Supreme Court affirmed that the government is allowed to disarm domestic abusers
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal law on Friday, June 21, that allows the government to disarm domestic abusers.
The landmark 8-1 ruling in United States v. Rahimi saw the court reject a challenge from gun rights activists who claimed that confiscating firearms violates the Second Amendment.
Chief Justice John Roberts noted in the court's opinion that he and his colleagues had "no trouble" reaching their decision.
"Our tradition of firearm regulation allows the Government to disarm individuals who present a credible threat to the physical safety of others," Roberts wrote.
Clarence Thomas was the only Supreme Court justice to dissent.
President Joe Biden — whose famed 1994 Senate crime bill touched on issues of gun safety and domestic violence — released a lengthy statement following Friday's ruling.
"No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun," he said. "As a result of today’s ruling, survivors of domestic violence and their families will still be able to count on critical protections, just as they have for the past three decades."
Related: President Joe Biden Signs Bipartisan Gun Safety Bill into Law: 'Lives Will Be Saved'
Vice President Kamala Harris, who oversees the inaugural White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, also lauded the decision in a statement and warned of how fragile gun safety laws have become.
“This case is yet another reminder that some want to take our country back to a time when women were not treated as equal to men and were not allowed to vote — and husbands could subject their wives to physical violence without it being considered a crime," Harris said.
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