The Supreme Court Should Back Firearms Restraints That Save Lives

Introduction

At my county coroner’s office, I regularly review cases of murdered women. They are victims of domestic violence, overwhelmingly ones shot to death by ex-husbands, ex-boyfriends or other men they knew. The Supreme Court is now poised to decide whether to put guns more easily into the hands of these abusers-turned-murderers, which would enshrine domestic violence as a warped historical privilege of the U.S. Constitution. Or the Court can make the lifesaving and legally sound decision and protect people such as the murder victims—mothers, daughters and children—I see in those case files.

The Fifth Circuit Decision

In February a federal circuit court in Texas ruled in U.S. v. Rahimi that an person under an active domestic violence civil protection order is nevertheless constitutionally entitled to possess firearms. In its upcoming term, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide the constitutionality of this Fifth Circuit decision, which now is the law in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Importance of Domestic Violence Firearm Restraints

I direct the University of California, Irvine School of Law Domestic Violence Clinic and co-chair the Orange County Domestic Violence Death Review Team, which convenes in the county coroner’s office. Almost all the deaths we examine are firearms deaths, and this team has firsthand knowledge of just how dangerous it would be to strike down nearly 30 years of federal law under the Violence Against Women Act prohibiting individuals under a domestic violence protection order from possessing firearms.

The Link Between Domestic Violence and Mass Shootings

The majority of mass shootings are related to domestic violence and are caused by men with histories of committing domestic violence. Zackey Rahimi’s actions, described below, show the need for the federal law’s firearm restraints that protect abuse survivors, their children and our communities.

The Supreme Court’s Decision

The Supreme Court should overturn the circuit court’s breach of federal law to protect domestic violence survivors from being shot to death. However, recent decisions by the Roberts Court have prioritized guns over lives, placing a higher premium on historical analogies to firearm regulations from the time of the Constitution’s framing rather than advancing important government interests.

The Case of Zackey Rahimi

In 2020, after Zackey Rahimi, a drug dealer in Texas with a

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses domestic violence, specifically the issue of domestic violence-related homicides and the potential impact of firearm restrictions on reducing these incidents. This aligns with SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. It also connects to SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children

The article highlights the need for firearm restrictions to protect domestic violence survivors and reduce domestic violence-related homicides. By addressing these issues, the article indirectly supports Target 5.2 of SDG 5, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. Additionally, it aligns with Target 16.1 of SDG 16, which seeks to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates. The article also emphasizes the importance of protecting children from domestic violence, which relates to Target 16.2 of SDG 16.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Number of domestic violence-related homicides
• Number of domestic violence incidents involving firearms
• Percentage of domestic violence survivors protected by firearm restrictions
• Percentage change in intimate partner killings in states with gun availability restrictions

These indicators can be used to assess the effectiveness of firearm restrictions in reducing domestic violence-related homicides and ensuring the safety of survivors. They can also provide insights into the impact of gun availability restrictions on intimate partner killings at a state level.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: scientificamerican.com

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