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U.S. Court Strikes Down Law Barring Domestic Violence Perpetrators from Owning Guns

HeadlineFeb 03, 2023

A federal court has struck down a ban on gun ownership for some perpetrators of domestic violence. The ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals relies on an antiquated interpretation of gun laws and comes as the U.S. is seeing a surge of gun violence. The Gun Violence Archive says there were 52 mass shootings last month, making it the deadliest January since it started tracking such data. A 2021 study found that over two-thirds of mass shootings are either domestic violence incidents or are perpetrated by shooters with a history of domestic violence. The Justice Department said it plans to appeal Thursday’s ruling.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, at least two Republican lawmakers, including embattled New York Congressmember George Santos, have been spotted wearing AR-15 pins on their lapels. The office of Florida Congressmember Anna Paulina Luna said the shocking accessory is meant to promote a gun bill, though it’s unclear what that bill is.

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