This month, lawmakers in Maryland are advancing a significant bill aimed at enhancing protections for victims of domestic violence by mandating that abusers relinquish their firearms within two days of their conviction. The proposed legislation would enable a judge to summon the convicted abuser back to court within five days, requiring them to demonstrate that they have surrendered their guns.
Recently, Oregon successfully closed the so-called “boyfriend loophole,” which previously allowed certain domestic abusers—those who were neither married to nor had children with their victims—to retain their firearms. While the state had prohibited individuals with domestic violence or stalking convictions from firearm ownership since 2015, closing this loophole offers crucial protection for women who might otherwise be threatened by abusive partners.
As House Majority Leader Rachel Jennings (D) stated, “An individual who assaults their partner is just as culpable of domestic violence as someone who harms their spouse.” The majority of us understand that domestic abusers should be required to give up their weapons. While federal laws restrict firearm possession for some domestic abusers, it falls upon state legislation to ensure that these individuals actually surrender any firearms they possess.
Currently, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, only 15 out of 50 states have regulations requiring abusers with final domestic violence restraining orders to turn in their firearms. This is a dangerous gap in our legal system, especially when one considers that women in the United States are murdered by intimate partners at alarming rates—11 times more frequently with firearms than women in other high-income nations. The presence of a gun in domestic violence situations heightens the risk of homicide for women by a staggering 500 percent.
Guns are often wielded by abusers as tools of intimidation and control, even if they never fire them. Approximately 4.5 million women in the U.S. have faced gun threats from intimate partners. Furthermore, there is a troubling link between a history of domestic violence and a tendency for future violence, including mass shootings.
As highlighted in a New York Times article by Laura Chen and Jacob Sutherland, “Men who perpetrate violence often rehearse and refine their aggression against family members first. For them, women and children serve as targets, and the home becomes a training ground for their later actions.” Notably, several individuals responsible for mass shootings, such as Victor Lee and David Hargrove, had previous accusations or convictions related to domestic violence.
Thus, it is imperative that we require convicted abusers to surrender their firearms—not only for the sake of their victims but also for the safety of the broader community. Research indicates that legislation limiting access to firearms for those with domestic violence restraining orders has led to a 25 percent decrease in intimate partner gun homicides. Studies have shown that when judges order abusers to surrender their weapons, compliance rates improve.
We must continue advocating for gun control—not just in the aftermath of mass shootings but consistently at local and state levels. It’s vital to unite our voices for change, recognizing that the lives of our loved ones depend on it. We must also vote as if our lives are at stake, because they truly are.
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Summary
This article discusses the urgent need for legislation requiring domestic abusers to surrender their firearms promptly after conviction. It highlights recent legislative efforts in Maryland and Oregon, the dangers posed by abusers retaining access to guns, and the critical importance of advocating for stronger gun control measures. The safety of victims and the public hinges on effective laws that ensure abusers cannot access firearms.
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