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.
