John,

Home is not always a safe haven. The CDC reports that 1 in 4 women will experience physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes.

Self-isolation, quarantine, and stay-in-place orders during the pandemic have resulted in an alarming increase in domestic violence incidents. However, the threat of domestic violence existed long before COVID-19 — and it will continue long after without policy safeguards in place.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) expired in 2019, and Republicans have been adamant to block it. In March, 172 House Republicans voted “no” to extending the landmark law, despite the original bill having had strong bipartisan support.

Why don’t Republicans want to reauthorize this critical bill? Because the reauthorization of VAWA includes a provision that would keep domestic abusers (called closing the "boyfriend loophole") from purchasing guns.

That’s right: Republican officials would rather side with the NRA and domestic abusers over survivors and preventing violence against women.

Reauthorizing VAWA and keeping guns out of the hands of people convicted of domestic abuse is critical to decreasing violent attacks against women. It would not only give hope to survivors and those at-risk of assault, but it will save lives.

That’s why I’m calling on the Senate to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. Will you sign my petition if you agree? Please join me in the fight to protect women from violence. Add your name now >>