Attorney General William Tong issued a statement today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Rahimi, which upheld the federal law prohibiting individuals with domestic violence restraining orders from possessing firearms.
"This decision affirms what we have said all along—domestic violence gun laws are strong and constitutional. They will keep people safe tonight, and they will keep saving lives," stated Attorney General Tong. "We’re going to keep fighting tooth and nail against each and every one of these reckless challenges to protect families, victims, and survivors of domestic violence, and to preserve our very strong gun laws here in Connecticut."
The case involved Zackey Rahimi, who assaulted the mother of his child and fired a gun at a bystander who witnessed the attack. A civil protective order was placed on Rahimi, prohibiting him from possessing firearms. Despite this order, Rahimi violated it multiple times, including using a gun to threaten another woman.
When prosecuted for possessing a firearm while under a protective order, Rahimi argued that the federal law infringed upon his Second Amendment rights. The Fifth Circuit initially agreed with Rahimi's claim. However, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed this decision, stating that "when an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment."
As co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Tong has led efforts to strengthen Connecticut’s domestic violence gun laws.