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The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal law banning firearm possession by individuals accused of domestic abuse, reversing a lower court ruling that had deemed the law a violation of the Second Amendment.

Domestic Abusers Can't Carry Firearms : Court's Decision on Firearm Ban

Chief Justice John Roberts dismissed the challenge by Zackey Rahimi, a Texas man, to Section 922(g)(8) of Title 18 of the U.S. Code. This law prohibits gun possession by individuals under domestic violence restraining orders. This marks the first Second Amendment case to reach the high court following its landmark 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which expanded the right to carry guns outside the home.

"In short, we have no trouble concluding that Section 922(g)(8) survives Rahimi's facial challenge," Roberts wrote. "Our tradition of firearm regulation allows the government to disarm individuals who present a credible threat to the physical safety of others."

Justice Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenter, contending the law is unconstitutional because "not a single historical regulation justifies the statute at issue," he stated.

Domestic Abusers Can't Carry Firearms : Background on Rahimi Case

Rahimi faced indictment in April 2021 after police discovered firearms and ammunition in his home while he was bound by a restraining order for assaulting his girlfriend in a parking lot. He argued that the law was unconstitutional under both the existing two-step framework and a historical analysis of regulation.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas rejected Rahimi's argument in June 2021, citing a Fifth Circuit ruling that upheld the gun ban for domestic abusers. Rahimi renewed his challenge after the Supreme Court's Bruen decision, which shifted the legal framework to focus on the history and tradition of gun regulations.

Appeals and Supreme Court Review

In February 2023, the Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of Rahimi, but federal prosecutors appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. They argued that historically, the government had the authority to disarm dangerous individuals. The government highlighted that the presence of a gun in a home with a domestic abuser increases the risk of homicide sixfold.

Domestic Abusers Can't Carry Firearms : Public and Legal Reactions

The Rahimi case quickly became a high-profile matter, attracting 67 amicus briefs from gun violence prevention groups, municipalities, prosecutors, and Second Amendment scholars. Supporters of the U.S. government's stance emphasized the danger posed by armed domestic abusers, while gun rights advocates and the National Rifle Association backed Rahimi.

During oral arguments in November, Supreme Court justices expressed doubts about the Fifth Circuit's interpretation of the Bruen test. U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar argued that the government retains the power to disarm those who are not "law-abiding and responsible." Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized the Bruen decision, noting it overlooked historical prohibitions on dangerous or disfavored groups.

Implications and Ongoing Challenges

The Supreme Court's ruling upholding the federal ban on firearms for domestic abusers underscores the government's authority to regulate gun possession among individuals deemed dangerous. However, challenges to other federal firearm restrictions continue to arise in lower courts, including those affecting unauthorized immigrants, convicted felons, and drug users.

Conclusion

The decision in the Rahimi case reaffirms the federal government's ability to disarm domestic abusers, aligning with historical precedents of firearm regulation. This landmark ruling serves as a significant development in the ongoing national debate over gun rights and public safety.