Supreme Court ruling on domestic violence

[Guest GhostHunter]

The Supreme Court today upheld a broad federal gun control law which strips gun rights from the many thousands of people who have been convicted of any domestic-violence crime.

In a 7-2 decision, the justices said the federal ban on gun possession was intended to keep "firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers," said Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The law covers not only those who have felony convictions, she said, but also misdemeanors involving an assault or beating against a former or current spouse or a live-in partner, as well as a child, a parent or others who live together in the home.

Complete details at:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-gun-control-law-upheld-022409-cn,0,2881431.story?track=rss

[Guest clownsdd]

I know I'm gonna take a hit on this, but I'm not sure I disagree. Unless you've been in that particular situation, it would be hard to understand. The key word is convicted.

[Guest Astra900]

The only problem I have with this law, is the fact that it's another gun control law. Aside from that, I could care less if some wife/kid beating bumpkin can't own a weapon.

[Guest Revelator]

Interesting. I discussed this case here a few months ago after the High Court heard arguments. The case is about statutory interpretation more than anything else. The problem here is that the state law under which Hayes was convicted had no element of familial relationship, and such relationship is required under the federal law to be a "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence." Technically Hayes should have won, but it's hard to take his side and let him have his guns back.

[Guest GhostHunter]

The only problem I have with this law, is the fact that it's another gun control law. Aside from that, I could care less if some wife/kid beating bumpkin can't own a weapon.

My thoughts exactly!!

[Falcon1]

The problem here is that the state law under which Hayes was convicted had no element of familial relationship, and such relationship is required under the federal law to be a "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence." Technically Hayes should have won, but it's hard to take his side and let him have his guns back.

Agree with your last point here.

That said, it certainly does appear to me that we are increasingly becoming not a nation of laws, but of something else entirely. Congressional representation for DC certainly seems unconstitutional to me, but what the hey...the Constitution, it's only a piece of paper, right?

I'm definitely not saying that that is what you're saying, P. Stegall...it is increasingly what a lot of lawmakers seem to be saying. OMO, YMMV.

[Fallguy]

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17887

But since this one has more responses and the other doesn't have any...I will close it.

[Guest nraforlife]

Get a gun and keep mouth shut

[Guest Rick O'Shay]

This bothers me because of the implications. Many years ago a friend's g/f (they were having problems at the time) called the police on my friend and I while we were sitting in his living room watching football and drinking beer. She told the police that we were beating her, and the first we knew about it was when the police showed up in force at the door. My friend and I were both 6'2" and north of 200#, and the girl was maybe 100# soaking wet, cute as a button, and crazy as a Betsy Bug. She told the police an improbable story that we were both beating her senseless, but she didn't have a single mark on her. I am telling this because the cops, when they showed up and saw her, were ready to beat the snot out of us. Fortunately they quickly realized the "problem" was the girl.

Ever since then I have been scared to death of situations like that. What if she had a bruise from falling down drunk or something? What if she told them we had raped her? We would have gone to jail for sure. I'm not saying that all domestic violence situations are false or anything like that, but how many guys get wrongly convicted out of sympathy for the "victim"?

I have never hit a woman in my life, and never will, but that sort of situation scares the bejeezus out of me. Hell, I won't even be around neighbors' kids without a woman present. Call me paranoid if you like, but in certain situations the accused is considered automatically guilty.

[S&WForty]

I have never hit a woman in my life, and never will, but that sort of situation scares the bejeezus out of me. Hell, I won't even be around neighbors' kids without a woman present. Call me paranoid if you like, but in certain situations the accused is considered automatically guilty.

I think the same way. It's a shame, but it's the only smart way to think these days. Try regaining your reputation after being falsely accused. The fine news media won't say you're innocent on the front page, if they even do it at all...