FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT:
Andrew Patrick
(p) 202-408-0061 Ext. 1017
(c) 828-712-7603
Senator Ernst’s Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act Does Not Protect Women
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Director of Federal Affairs Dakota Jablon issued the following statement:
“This evening, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Senate Republican version of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Unfortunately, the Ernst version of VAWA would allow domestic abusers, sexual abusers, and stalkers to keep their firearms. This version of the bill would greatly increase the risk of armed and fatal violence against American women — which is counterproductive to the purpose of the 25-year-old Violence Against Women Act.
“Guns and domestic violence are a lethal combination. When an abusive partner has access to a firearm, the risk that the other partner (usually a woman) will be killed increases more than five-fold. We know that restricting abusers access to guns is an effective policy — reducing domestic violence homicide by as much as 25%.
“The National Rifle Association does not hold much sway with the American public anymore, but there are still members in the United States Senate who continue to serve as minions for the gun organization. On issues that have formerly been seen as nonpartisan, like violence against women, we would hope that Senator Ernst would fight for the safety of American women.
“We urge Republican lawmakers to return to the negotiating table and find a solution with their Democratic counterparts to reauthorize this important policy and keep women safe from domestic violence.”
Resources
Website: Disarm Domestic Violence
Fact Sheet: Domestic Violence and Guns in the United States: A Lethal Combination
Report: Firearm Removal/Retrieval in Cases of Domestic Violence
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The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) is the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organization. CSGV develops and advocates for evidence-based solutions to reduce gun injury and death in all its forms.
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