FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT: Darcy Hirsh, National Council of Jewish Women, dhirsh@ncjw.org

Following the US Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Rahimi, a challenge to the constitutionality of a federal law that makes it a crime for someone who is the subject of a domestic-violence restraining order to have a gun, National Council of Jewish Women Government Relations and Advocacy Director Darcy Hirsh issued the following statement.

“We commend the Supreme Court for today’s decision which favored people over guns. Eight justices agreed that  abusers subject to restraining orders do not have a constitutional right to firearms. This decision is literally life-saving. The data is clear: the presence of a firearm in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%. What’s more, in more than half of mass shootings over the past decade, the perpetrator shot a current or former intimate partner or family member as part of a rampage. 

“Consistent with the Jewish value of b’tzelem Elohim  — that every single person’s well-being is paramount and unassailable — National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) has long worked to ensure safety for survivors of sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence, advocating for stronger laws to protect survivors and ensure abusers cannot access firearms. We are gratified that this decision leaves in place an important protection for survivors and those at risk of intimate partner violence.”  

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