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SCOTUS: no guns for domestic abusers

During a time when there is so much tragedy from gun violence, it’s promising to see a step in the right direction.

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law passed by Congress in 1996 that prohibits people convicted of domestic abuse from owning firearms.

Their ruling also said that misdemeanor domestic violence convictions – like hitting, choking, or slapping – are enough to warrant a ban on owning a gun.

More than half of the women murdered with guns in our country are killed by intimate partners or family members. This ruling is a smart step to prevent gun violence.

Domestic violence is deadly and we can do more. States that have closed the background check loophole to require background checks for private sales have seen a 46% reduction in the number of women who are shot to death by intimate partners. That’s significant.

I’ve been fighting to close the background check loophole at the federal level so abusive partners don’t simply cross state lines to get guns.

Lives are at risk, and Congress should take action now. I applaud the Supreme Court’s commonsense ruling, and I’ll keep fighting in Congress for policies that keep our communities safer.

Thank you for standing with me.

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Posted on July 6, 2016.

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Meet Suzanne

Suzanne knows what it’s like to struggle to make ends meet. She worked her way through community college, university, and law school. She started her career at Legal Aid and worked as a consumer rights attorney. Throughout her career she’s been a leading advocate for public education, protecting the environment, and civil rights. She’s fighting for a better future for all Oregonians.

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