Supreme Court upholds firearms ban aimed at protecting domestic violence victims

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Supreme Court handed down what many consider to be the most significant gun control ruling in years on Friday, upholding a law that keeps domestic violence victims safer.

"This case was all about whether a federal gun ban law would be held up as constitutional," said Meg Savage, with Kentucky domestic violence coalition ZeroV.

Gun rights groups argued that keeping guns out of the hands of people known for committing domestic violence violated their Second Amendment rights.

All of the Supreme Court justices except for one, Chief Justice John Roberts, ruled in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under a restraining order.

The ruling on Friday overturns a previous New Orleans federal appeals court ruling that had previously struck down the 1994 ban, as reported by the Associated Press. Chief Justice Roberts said the lower courts misunderstood recent Second Amendment cases.

"So we are very excited and pleased today," Savage said.

Savage and ZeroV do all they can to provide shelter and services for domestic violence victims, but she said the statistics are grim.

"Every 12 hours someone is shot and killed by a current or former intimate partner," Savage said.

But, Savage knows the Supreme Court's decision will save lives in Kentucky.

"I'm sure it will bring a lot of relief to survivors in Kentucky and also the advocates that work with them," she said.

Former UK basketball and NBA star Rajon Rondo's trial was delayed while the Supreme Court made its decision.

In January, Rondo was arrested on gun and marijuana charges in Indiana. He was not supposed to have a gun because he had a no-contact order taken out against him.

But police said Rondo had a 9mm gun in his car when he was pulled over on Interstate 65 in southern Indiana for driving at speeds exceeding 100mph.

The National Rifle Association weighed in on the high court's opinion, calling it "narrow," and are still fighting other gun laws it calls unconstitutional.

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