Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bicameral Bill to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors from Gun Violence

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they have joined their Senate and House colleagues in introducing legislation to close a dangerous loophole that allows domestic abusers to legally obtain firearms.

"Keeping guns out of the hands of domestic violence abusers is common sense," Wyden said. "It's past time to help end the cycle of gun violence and provide domestic violence survivors with bare minimum protection against their abusers, and our bill is the way to do it."

"Common-sense measures to ensure abusers and violent offenders are barred from accessing firearms are the least we can do to protect the safety of both domestic abuse survivors and our broader communities," said Merkley. "Domestic abuse survivors shouldn't have to worry that their abusers can obtain a gun either during or after they escape abusive situations."

The Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act prohibits individuals subject to temporary restraining orders from purchasing or possessing firearms and extends protections to domestic violence survivors who have been abused by dating partners. The bill is named in memory of Lori Jackson, an American mother who was tragically shot and killed by her estranged husband who had legally obtained a handgun even though he was subject to a temporary restraining order, and Nicolette Elias, a mother who, despite securing restraining orders and temporary stalking orders against her estranged and abusive ex-husband, was murdered by her former spouse in front of their children with a handgun that he refused to relinquish.

In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the legislation is also led by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Representative Jim Himes, D-Conn. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Coons, D-Del., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Peter Welch, D-Vt.

The legislation is supported by a number of organizations, including Brady, Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, GIFFORDS, Newtown Action Alliance, Everytown, Jewish Women International, March for Our Lives, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The text of the bill is here.

###