On June 21, 2024, in a significant 8-1 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal law that prohibits domestic violence abusers, who pose a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner or child of the partner or individual from possessing firearms.
The Court’s ruling in United States v. Rahimi upheld a federal law that was enacted nearly 30 years ago, ensuring continued protection for abuse victims and survivors from gun violence.
Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, wrote, "Since the founding, our Nation's firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms. As applied to the facts of this case, Section 922(g)(8) fits comfortably within this tradition."
This landmark decision has a profound impact on Washington State survivors who have a domestic violence protection order. If the Supreme Court had found the federal law unconstitutional, perpetrators would have solid grounds to overturn Washington’s firearm surrender laws and survivors would lose critical state protections requiring abusers to surrender their firearms.
Northwest Justice Project will continue its vital work to ensure that Washington courts issue orders to surrender weapons as required by law, protecting survivors from gun violence. This ruling is a crucial victory for the safety and well-being of domestic violence survivors.