Thanks to the federal Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban. convicted domestic abusers have been barred from purchasing guns since 1996. But the federal law has two gaping loopholes: the “boyfriend loophole” and a stipulation that leaves an abuser’s existing gun collection untouched.
This “boyfriend loophole” in particular allows convicted domestic abusers who aren’t married to their targets to still purchase guns.
In response, some local and state governments have passed effective laws forcing convicted domestic abusers or subjects of domestic violence restraining orders to turn in their guns.
