Court Watch: GUNS AND DOMESTIC ABUSERS: PROTECTIVE ORDERS AND GUN REMOVAL IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND

 

Dear Court Watch Friends and Supporters,   The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Nov. 7 in United States v. Rahimi, a case with profound implications for survivors of domestic violence. At risk is nearly 30 years of federal law that prohibits abusers from buying or owning guns for the duration of a domestic violence protective order. Recognizing the extreme danger of guns in domestic violence situations, and the risk posed by the Rahimi case, we are excited to announce the release of our latest report, Guns and Domestic Abusers: Protective Orders and Gun Removal in Montgomery County, Maryland. This report illustrates how domestic violence protective orders promote safety by restricting abusers’ access to firearms. The report: highlights federal and Maryland law governing domestic violence and access to firearms, explores the process used to serve domestic violence protective orders and obtain guns from abusers in Montgomery County, MD, presents data collected by Court Watch monitors on use of gun-related best practices by Montgomery County District Court judges, and makes recommendations to further strengthen the protective order process in Montgomery County.

Click here to view the report.

We hope this report serves as a valuable resource in promoting safety and raising awareness at this critical time when legal protections for survivors may be in jeopardy.   We are deeply grateful to the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund for a generous grant that helped make this report possible. Thank you to all our donors for supporting our mission of ensuring safety and justice for domestic violence survivors in Montgomery County courtrooms. Together, we can make a difference! Please contact us with any questions. Sincerely, Karen Spar, Court Watch Board Member, karen.spar@gmail.com Judy Whiton, Court Watch Board Member and Co-Founder, jhwhit0n@msn.com 📢 New Report Release: "Guns and Domestic Abusers: Protective Orders and Gun Removal in Montgomery County, Maryland" (mailchi.mp)