NNEDV Welcomes Legislation that Addresses Domestic Violence Homicides

July 21, 2015

NNEDV to Call on Congress to Act at Congressional Briefing on Thursday

The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) applauds Representative Dold (R-IL) and Representative Dingell (D-MI) for introducing the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act, important legislation that addresses the intersection of firearms and domestic violence. Evidence-based research makes it clear: guns play a lethal role in turning domestic violence into murder. This bill represents a substantial step towards saving lives.

The numbers are stark with regards to intimate partner homicide. When abusers have access to firearms, victims’ lives are put in grave danger. From 2001 through 2012, 6,410 women were murdered in the U.S. by an intimate partner using a gun—more than the total number of U.S. troops killed in action during the entirety of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined. This bill closes two of the loopholes used by abusers to access firearms. It bars stalkers from possessing firearms, and expands the prohibited class of abusers to include dating partners.

There is an urgent need for stronger regulations prohibiting violent abusers from possessing guns. This bipartisan bill is the companion to the Senate “Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act of 2015” introduced by Senator Klobuchar (D-MN).

NNEDV Vice President of Public Policy, Ron LeGrand, will be speaking at House and Senate briefings, Domestic Abuse and Gun Violence: Progress in the States and the Need for Congressional Action, on Thursday, representing the voices of millions of domestic violence survivors nationwide and calling on Congress to act swiftly on this lifesaving legislation.

“Nearly 25 states have already closed these dangerous gaps in federal legislation which allow abusers freedom to access their firearms, and it is time that federal law follows suit,” said LeGrand. “This legislation builds upon the successes of the Violence Against Women Act and demonstrates a continued commitment to survivors of domestic and dating violence, stalking and sexual abuse.”

Join us to learn more about these issues.

House Briefing
Thursday, July 23rd
10:00-11:15AM
2456 Rayburn House Office Building

Senate Briefing
Thursday, July 23rd
2:00-3:00PM
Capitol Visitors Center, SVC 212-10