{"id":1548,"date":"2017-12-09T01:21:35","date_gmt":"2017-12-09T01:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/?p=1548"},"modified":"2018-08-13T00:23:55","modified_gmt":"2018-08-13T00:23:55","slug":"close-the-boyfriend-loophole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/close-the-boyfriend-loophole\/","title":{"rendered":"THE BOYFRIEND LOOPHOLE: Close it to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence"},"content":{"rendered":"
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Quick Action” title=”Quick Action” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%82%%” icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”809px” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”65px” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_text_align=”left” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#efb217″ background_color=”#00417f” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_starting_opacity=”20%” animation=”right” url_new_window=”off” use_circle=”off” use_circle_border=”off” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n
Deadly loopholes in our federal gun laws allow stalkers and domestic abusers to have guns simply because they are not married to their victims, even though women are just as likely to be killed by a dating partner as by a spouse. <\/span>Ask your MoC to sign on as co-sponsors to legislation that will close \u201cThe Boyfriend Loophole\u201d (<\/b>S.<\/b>1539<\/b><\/span><\/a> in the Senate and <\/b>H.R. 3207<\/b><\/span><\/a> in the House). <\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n Prevention of Gun Violence & Violence Against Women Working Group<\/a> and Everytown for Gun Safety<\/a> C2A<\/strong><\/p>\n American women are <\/span>16 times more likely<\/span><\/a> to be shot and killed with a gun than women in other high income countries. The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it <\/span>five times more likely<\/span><\/a> that a woman will be shot and killed. While federal law generally prohibits gun possession by domestic abusers, it often does not apply when the victim is a dating partner as opposed to a spouse, an oversight referred to as \u201cThe Boyfriend Loophole.\u201d <\/span>Maine has <\/span>one of the highest rates of domestic violence-related homicide<\/span><\/a>, accounting for nearly half of all homicides in the state. <\/span>Two new bills<\/span><\/a> aimed at closing The Boyfriend Loophole have been introduced in congress, <\/span>S.1539<\/span><\/a>: Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims and the bipartisan <\/span>H.R. 3207<\/span><\/a>: Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act. The bills would update federal gun law to encompass abusive dating partners and prohibit convicted stalkers from buying or possessing guns. So far, none of Maine\u2019s congressional delegation have signed on as co-sponsors. While <\/span>Maine law already offers some protection<\/span><\/a> against stalkers and abusive dating partners, it is often at a judge\u2019s discretion. These bills would mandate and expand the protection.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ background_color=”#00417f” module_class=”site-footer” _builder_version=”3.0.79″ custom_padding=”2px|0px|5px|0px” global_module=”845″][et_pb_row global_parent=”845″ make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”2600px” custom_padding=”35px||0px|” custom_margin=”|||” _builder_version=”3.0.79″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” module_alignment=”center”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image global_parent=”845″ src=”https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/suitup_new_new_FLAME_horiz-1.png” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ max_width=”45%” custom_margin=”||15px|” \/][et_pb_text global_parent=”845″ background_layout=”dark” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_text_color=”#efb217″ text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.5em” max_width=”85%” custom_margin=”|||”]<\/p>\n Suit Up Maine is an all-volunteer grassroots group of Mainers who work to raise awareness of and advocate for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. We are\u00a0beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians, and we aren\u2019t engaged in fundraising. Suit Up Maine fosters collaboration among our state\u2019s progressive groups and organizations to collectively connect, educate, and motivate Mainers to rise in non-violent resistance to a regressive agenda.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar global_parent=”845″ area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ background_layout=”dark” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ header_font=”Open Sans|on||on|” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”16px” header_text_color=”#ffffff” background_color=”#00417f” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”95%” max_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|40px||” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text global_parent=”845″ background_layout=”dark” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_font=”|on||on|” text_font_size=”12px” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_letter_spacing=”1px” header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||10px|” custom_padding=”||10px|”]<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n
THE ISSUE<\/span><\/h4>\n
THE ACTION<\/span><\/h4>\n
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