Brown Provision To Protect Victims Of Domestic Violence And Stalking Included In Democrats' Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization

Press Release

Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) released the following statement in support of Democrats' Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization, and expressed strong support for the inclusion of provisions he introduced to prevent homicides perpetrated by an "intimate partner' or convicted stalker.

Included within Democrats' reauthorization of VAWA are provisions laid out in H.R.2670, introduced by Congressman Brown in May, 2017. These provisions are intended to help prevent "intimate partner" homicides by expanding firearms laws to prohibit persons convicted of dating violence from possessing firearms. The provisions also prohibit persons convicted of misdemeanor stalking and individuals subject to ex parte protective orders from possessing firearms.

"When 20 people every minute suffer abuse at the hands of an intimate partner in the United States, there is always more Congress can do to help those who need protection under the law," said Congressman Brown. "When there are gaps within the system that allow for perpetrators of abuse to continue or escalate this abuse, it is our moral responsibility to address them, close them and save the lives of potential victims."

"It is up to us to ensure that no one who exhibits and is convicted of violent, irrational, or obsessive behavior is able to purchase a weapon to intimidate or target their victims -- especially given the clear connection between domestic violence or stalking and gun-related homicides. I'm grateful that my colleagues understand this correlation, and have taken up the measures laid out in my bill in our proposed reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act."

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