‘Boyfriend loophole’ stalls bipartisan Senate gun deal. It’s time to close it.

June 21, Natalie Nanasi, assistant professor of law at the SMU Dallas Dedman School of Law and co-author Jeana Foxman, for an op-ed calling immediate passage of gun legislation that closes the “boyfriend loophole.” Published in the Orange County Register under the heading ‘Boyfriend loophole’ stalls bipartisan Senate gun deal. It’s time to close it: https://bit.ly/3HExizg

When 19 children were gunned down last month in their fourth-grade classroom in Uvalde, Texas, the worst nightmare of each victim’s family became a horrible reality. Since that fateful day, families across the country wake up with vacillating feelings of guilt-ridden gratitude and utter fear.

Silver linings seem callous in this instance, but the unspeakable tragedy has finally compelled our elected officials to take action to reform our nation’s gun laws. The “bipartisan framework” announced this week is the most promising action on gun control we have seen in a generation.

Progress is being derailed, however, by some lawmakers’ objections to closing the so-called “boyfriend loophole.” Federal law prohibits those who have committed domestic violence against a spouse or former spouse —  or a person they currently live, previously lived, or share a child with — from possessing a gun. Adolescents and teenagers — who are less likely  to be married, have children, or be living with anyone other than their parents — are left unprotected from an abuser with a gun. Such as a boyfriend.

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