Yesterday, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals continued to dismantle the federal law that helps protect individuals experiencing domestic violence from gun violence. This decision has dangerous ramifications for domestic violence survivors across the US and I support the Department of Justice in appealing this ruling.
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of homicide by 500 percent. In addition, Black women are twice as likely to be shot and killed by an intimate partner.
As a domestic violence survivor, I am hyper aware of the need for us to uphold the protections a domestic violence restraining order affords survivors. These Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs) help remove firearms from people who can cause great harm. It is imperative that Alameda County residents, especially survivors of domestic violence, know that our DVROs are still a valid and available tool in making their home safer.