Gun Violence
and Domestic
Violence
Why Talk about Three Different Issues?
Gun
Violence
Stalking
Domestic
Violence
Ground rules
RESPECT
Ask questions!
Balance your discomfort
Self-care
Why Talk about This Issue?
1 in 4
• Women
experience
domestic
abuse in the
U.S.
79%
500%
• Likelihood that
a woman
murdered by
an intimate
partner with a
gun reported
being stalked
• Increased
likelihood that
a domestic
violence victim
will be killed by
their partner if
a gun is in the
vicinity
Domestic Abuse
 A pattern of coercive, controlling behavior that can include physical
abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse
(using money and financial tools to exert control)
 Gun violence is particularly likely in these situations
Stalking
 A course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a
reasonable person to feel fear
 Gun violence is also more likely in this situation
Order of Protection
 An official command issued by a court to refrain from certain activity
 Filed by one person (the petitioner) against another person (the
respondent)
 The terms of the order apply only to the respondent
 Common terms: ceasing or limiting contact, keeping a minimum distance
from the petitioner or her home or place of work
 Sometimes called a “restraining order”
Peace of Mind
“Peace of Mind” – A State-by-State
Simulation
1) Do your state’s
laws expand the
definition of
“dating partners”?
“Peace of Mind” – A State-by-State
Simulation
2) Does your state
require the abuser to
surrender all firearms
upon a misdemeanor
domestic violence
conviction?
“Peace of Mind” – A State-by-State
Simulation
3) Does your state
have universal
background
checks?
“Peace of Mind” – A State-by-State
Simulation
4) Does your state
enter abusers into
the background
check database?
“Peace of Mind” – A State-by-State
Simulation
5) Does your state
require the abuser to
surrender firearms
upon a misdemeanor
stalking conviction?
“Peace of Mind” – A State-by-State
Simulation
6) Does your state
require the abuser to
surrender firearms upon
the issuance of a
domestic violence
order of protection?
“Peace of Mind” – A State-by-State
Simulation
7) Does your state
requires law enforcement
to seize the firearm used
as a weapon at the
scene of a domestic
abuse incident?
Debrief
What did
you learn?
What
surprised you?
What do Jewish values teach us?
Gun Violence and
Domestic Violence
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Some Legislative History…
Lautenberg
Amendment
Violence
Against
Women Act
(VAWA)
Brady Bill
Federal Laws
Regulating
Guns and
Domestic
Violence
Brady Bill
 Enacted in 1993
 Established background checks on many gun sales
 Prohibits people convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors, and
people convicted of stalking, from purchasing guns
 Does not prohibit them from possessing guns
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
 Passed in 1994
 First law that made domestic violence a crime under federal law
 Landmark, bipartisan law to combat violence against women
 Amended and reauthorized throughout the years
Lautenberg Amendment
 Written by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) in 1996
 Prohibits people convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor from
possessing or purchasing guns
 LOOPHOLE: Only applies to relationships where the partners are married,
living together, or have a child
State Laws
Some haven’t
Many states
have
enacted their
own laws
Navigating
the legal
landscape is
difficult
Why we
need a
federal
law
Protecting Domestic Violence and
Stalking Victims Act (S. 1520)
1.
Expand the definition of “dating partners” to extend protections to victims
of domestic abuse in cases with a non-married partner
2. Restrict those who have been convicted of stalking from purchasing
guns from dealers who require background checks
Protecting Domestic Violence and
Stalking Victims Act
 Introduced by Sen.
Amy Klobuchar
 Advocacy for this bill
was part of NFTY’s
“Wear Orange”
campaign
What can we do?