Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Gun Ownership for Those Under Restraining Orders for Domestic Violence
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that individuals placed under restraining orders for suspected domestic violence do not have a right to own guns. The ruling upholds a 30-year-old law that bars those with restraining orders for domestic abuse from owning firearms.
Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the majority opinion, stating that the policy of disarming alleged domestic abusers is in line with common sense and the protection of public safety. Justice Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenter, arguing that the decision puts at risk the Second Amendment rights of many more individuals.
The case at the center of the ruling involved Zackey Rahimi, a Texas man with a history of armed violence against intimate partners and shootings in public places. Despite a court order suspending his handgun license and barring him from possessing firearms, Rahimi continued to keep his weapons and was involved in multiple shootings in public.
The decision has been met with mixed reactions, with Second Amendment advocates expressing disappointment while gun control groups like Brady have hailed it as an important victory for gun violence and domestic violence prevention. The ruling is seen as a rare victory for firearms restrictions at the top court, with implications for future gun control measures.
