COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Organizations that serve victims of domestic violence are speaking out after a Friday ruling from the Supreme Court upheld a federal gun control law that bars those under a domestic violence restraining order from owning a gun.
Briana Jeter, program director at Kingdom Builders Family Life Center, said she was surprised but also relieved when she heard about the ruling.
“Our justice system is very reactive, meaning there is a lot of laws and things that get in place because something happened but knowing that a ruling was put in place that can be a preventative measure, essentially so an individual is protecting themselves against a further hurt from a person,” she said.
Jeter said a gun can turn an already dangerous situation into a deadly one.
“The presence of a firearm inside a domestic violence home can increase the risk of a homicide by 500 percent,” she said.
Those at TESSA, another organization that serves those suffering domestic abuse, sent 11 News a statement.
“The safety of victims of domestic violence in our community is of utmost importance,” CEO Anne Markley said. “In light of the growing demand locally for TESSA services, we are encouraged when measures are put in place to help maintain such safety.”
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser also sent out a statement.
“It’s obvious that these gun safety laws make a difference and save lives,” he said. “Today’s opinion from the court makes it clear that laws keeping domestic violence abusers from having guns are constitutional and will remain so.”
The NRA deemphasized the importance of the ruling.
“The Supreme Court’s narrow opinion offers no endorsement of red flag laws or of the dozens of other unconstitutional laws that the NRA is challenging across the country that burden the right of peaceable Americans to keep and bear arms,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director Randy Kozuch. “This decision holds only that an individual who poses a clear threat of violence may be temporarily disarmed after a judicial finding of dangerousness.”
Jeter said anyone experiencing domestic violence should call their 24-hour hotline at 719-464-4647.
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