Friend,

Today is International Women's Day and while I think about the women I admire in the gun violence prevention movement and in my life, I am also thinking about the women that the Supreme Court could put at risk if they side with the gun lobby yet again in U.S. v. Rahimi. 

The outcome of this case will be consequential, friend, it will determine if domestic abusers should have access to firearms. If they stand up to the gun lobby, the Supreme Court’s decision has the power to save lives and stop families from experiencing the loss and grief that mine did. 

Twenty years ago, my mom was shot and killed answering the door of her home. It took nearly twelve years, and two more lives being senselessly cut short before my mom’s killer was found and prosecuted. During the trial, it was revealed that the man who killed my mom had a history of abuse and was subject to a domestic violence restraining order, yet he was still able to obtain firearms. 

There is a lethal connection between firearms and domestic abuse, friend, in fact, the mere presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times as likely that a woman will be killed. And each month in our country, about 70 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner. Firearms are the most common weapons used in domestic violence homicides. It defies common sense that dangerous individuals like my mom’s murderer can easily gain access to their weapons of choice. 

Gun laws that protect victims of domestic abuse are among the most important public safety laws in this country. Everyone is safer when abusers don’t have access to firearms. That’s why Brady is fighting so hard to keep guns out of dangerous hands, protect our common sense gun laws, and pass even more.

The Supreme Court’s decision will not bring back my mom. Their decision will not heal me or my family, but their decision can stop other families from experiencing this grief. They hold the power to save lives and we hope they will do the right thing by the American people. Please, friend, will you join me in calling on the Court to rule in favor of the safety of our nation and keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers?

Thank you for taking action, friend.

Liz Dunning
Gun Violence Survivor
Chief Development & Engagement Officer