Supreme Court upholds gun ban for domestic violence abusers

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Supreme Court upheld a federal law meant to protect domestic violence victims by restricting abusers from having guns.

In an eight to one ruling, the court says the government can stop dangerous people from getting guns, specifically those found by a court to pose a credible threat of physical safety to someone else.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said those with domestic violence restraining orders can be barred from having a gun.

“This ruling is a huge relief for women and children in this country,” said gun violence prevention advocate, Emma Brown.

Emma Brown, with the gun violence prevention group, Giffords, says if justices had overturned the law, it could have been catastrophic for survivors of domestic violence.

“The fact that we are litigating whether people with domestic violence or restraining orders should have firearm access is ridiculous,” Brown added.

The decision reverses a lower court ruling that said a Texas man who hit and threatened to shoot his girlfriend could have a gun.

Syracuse law professor Lauryn Gouldin didn’t expect the court to rule in his favor.

“He was purportedly seen dragging his then girlfriend out of the car by her hair,” said Gouldin.

In his opinion, Justice Roberts wrote, “Since the founding, our Nation’s firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.”

Georgetown Law Dean William Treanor said justices based their opinion on a broad view of history at the time of the founding.

“So, you don’t look at, were there bans on guns for people who committed domestic violence, you look at it, were there bans on guns for people who were dangerous?” asked Treanor.

Treanor says the court’s lone dissenter, Justice Clarence Thomas, took a narrower view of history.

“They don’t all take the same approach to what the original understanding was,” said Treanor.

Last week the court overturned a federal ban on bump stocks.

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