US Supreme Court Upholds Federal Law Prohibiting Gun Possession by Domestic Violence Offenders

Despite Higher Salaries for Supreme Court Justices, 8 to 1
Biden: "Protecting the Abused"

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a federal law prohibiting firearm possession by domestic abusers is constitutional. President Joe Biden, who has emphasized the need for gun control amid a conservative-leaning court that has mostly opposed gun regulations, welcomed the decision.

According to Bloomberg and other sources, on the 21st (local time), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 that the ban on firearm possession by domestic abusers is constitutional. This case arose from a dispute involving a defendant named Jacky Rahimi. Rahimi was ordered to refrain from possessing firearms after assaulting his girlfriend in 2020 but was charged with violating the order and carrying out a shooting. In February last year, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the ban on firearm possession by domestic abusers was unconstitutional.

A handgun displayed at the National Rifle Association (NRA) exhibition held in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

This followed the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling that a New York state law restricting carrying firearms in public places was unconstitutional. At that time, the Court cited the Second Amendment, which protects the right to bear arms, stating that "gun regulations must not contradict historical traditions."

Subsequently, several state-level gun control laws were struck down as unconstitutional. However, on this day, the Supreme Court overturned the appellate court’s decision and ruled the ban constitutional.

Chief Justice John Roberts stated regarding the ruling, "Since the founding of the nation, gun laws have targeted individuals who cause physical harm to others," and that the order prohibiting firearm possession by domestic abusers aligns with the Second Amendment. Among the nine justices, only Justice Clarence Thomas dissented. Justice Thomas criticized the decision, saying, "No historical regulation justifies the ban on firearm possession," and warned that "this ruling allowing the government to regulate a specific group threatens many people's Second Amendment rights."

Foreign media particularly hailed the Supreme Court’s decision as a "victory for the Biden administration." President Biden said in a statement that "this ruling ensures that survivors of domestic violence and their families continue to receive significant protections, as they have for over 30 years." He added, "No one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser owning a gun."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.