The Supreme Court upheld a federal law that prohibits individuals under domestic violence restraining orders from possessing guns in two separate rulings on June 21, 2024. The decisions came as a relief for gun control advocates and survivors of domestic violence, who have long argued that keeping firearms out of the hands of abusers is essential for public safety.
In the first case, United States v. Rahimi, the court ruled that individuals who pose a credible threat to intimate partners or parents of their children may be banned from possessing firearms while the order is in effect. The ruling was a rebuke of a lower court decision that had found the law unconstitutional.
Zackey Rahimi, whose constitutional rights were not violated when his guns were confiscated following a history of gun crimes and abuse against his girlfriend and mother of his child, was the subject of the case. The Supreme Court's ruling upheld a lower court decision that had denied Rahimi's bid to have the charges thrown out on constitutional grounds.
In another case, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul hailed the Supreme Court's decision as a 'glimmer of hope,' noting that over 30,000 guns are now out of the hands of potential abusers or assailants in New York as a result of gun legislation.
The decisions were welcomed by gun control activists and survivors of domestic violence, who have long argued that keeping firearms out of the hands of abusers is essential for public safety. The rulings also come after a landmark 2022 decision that expanded Second Amendment rights, leaving some questioning how the court would approach future gun regulation cases.
The Supreme Court's decisions in United States v. Rahimi and other related cases are significant because they provide clarity on the constitutionality of federal gun laws that restrict firearms possession by individuals under domestic violence restraining orders. The rulings also serve as a reminder that public safety should be a priority when it comes to gun regulation, particularly in cases where there is a credible threat of harm to others.
