Wyden and Merkley introduce bill to block domestic abusers from buying guns

Bend, ORE. (KTVZ)--- U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined Congressional colleagues Friday to introduce legislation aimed at preventing domestic abusers from legally obtaining firearms.

The Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act would prohibit individuals subject to temporary restraining orders from purchasing or possessing firearms. The bill also extends federal protections to domestic violence survivors who have been abused by dating partners.

The legislation is named in memory of Jackson, a mother killed by her estranged husband who legally purchased a handgun while under a temporary restraining order. It also honors Elias, a mother murdered in front of her children by her former husband after he refused to surrender his handgun despite active restraining and stalking orders.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, and U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Connecticut, are leading the bicameral bill alongside Wyden and Merkley. The measure has drawn 18 Senate cosponsors, including Sens. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, and Dick Durbin, D-Illinois

Sen. Wyden, D-Oregon, advocated for the legislative change to protect survivors. “Keeping guns out of the hands of domestic violence abusers is common sense,” Wyden said. “It's past time to help end the cycle of gun violence and provide domestic violence survivors with bare minimum protection against their abusers and our bill is the way to do it.”

Sen. Merkley, D-Oregon, emphasized the risks survivors face when attempting to leave abusive situations. “Common-sense measures to ensure abusers and violent offenders are barred from accessing firearms are the least we can do to protect the safety of both domestic abuse survivors and our broader communities,” Merkley said. “Domestic abuse survivors shouldn't have to worry that their abusers can obtain a gun either during or after they escape abusive situations.”

Numerous national advocacy and public safety organizations have endorsed the bill. Supporters include Brady, Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, GIFFORDS, Newtown Action Alliance, Everytown, Jewish Women International, March for Our Lives, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and the CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence.