Reauthorize VAWA in the Senate

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was introduced to prevent domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking and to hold offenders accountable, is at risk of not being reauthorized by the Senate after House Democrats included provisions to expand gun regulations for those convicted of domestic abuse.

 “Currently, those convicted of domestic abuse can be denied access to firearms only if they have been married to their victim, have a child with their victim, live with their victim or are the legal guardian of their victim. The measure does not extend to dating or intimate relationships, which account for a significant amount of abuse cases.

 Democrats and a number of Republicans want to close this so-called “boyfriend loophole,” given that victims of domestic violence, regardless of marital status, are five times more likely to be killed if their abusers have access to a gun, according to Giffords Law Center, a gun safety group.”

Pathfinders serves youth who are directly affected by the state of VAWA, youth who have been abused by intimate partners and family members. Join us in urging our senators to push for the reauthorization of VAWA and to expand services for those in unnecessary danger due to legal loopholes: https://www.theunitedstateofwomen.org/vawa/.