High court bolsters domestic violence gun ban law

[SecularMotion]

WASHINGTON (AP) — People convicted of minor domestic violence offenses can be barred from possessing guns even in states where no proof of physical violence is required to support the domestic violence charge, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

The ruling was a victory for the Obama administration, gun control groups and advocates for victims of domestic abusers who say the gun ban is critical in preventing the escalation of domestic violence.

The justices unanimously rejected the argument put forth by gun rights groups and a Tennessee man who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic assault against the mother of his child in 2001. The man, James Castleman, was then charged in 2009 with illegal possession of a firearm after he and his wife were accused of buying guns and selling them on the black market.

Federal law bars a person convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence involving the use of physical force or a deadly weapon from possessing a firearm. But Castleman said he should not have to face the gun charges because the Tennessee law doesn’t specify that his domestic violence crime had to include physical force.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/2014/03/26/high-court-bolsters-domestic-violence-gun-ban-law/9aTiYcEKTCGpFkrXhOW47H/story.html

[uncommonlink]

1. Good ruling.

[Jgarrick]

2. I agree.

[uncommonlink]

3. And unanimous at that.

That's what surprised the hell out of me.

[petronius]

4. Good ruling! Here's a link to the full decision:

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/13pdf/12-1371_6b35.pdf

Shamelessly plagiarized from happyslug in the LBN thread...

[hack89]

5. Not an earth shattering decision

This is an old law - the guy thought he had found a loophole in how domestic violence was defined. The SC said no.

[friendly_iconoclast]

6. Good on the Supremes. K&R

[Eleanors38]

7. Overdue, but welcome. nt

[Duckhunter935]

8. Not quite the answers you wanted I see

Nice ruling, Sounds like the laws will now be clarified for the good.