The Violence Against Women Act must include life-saving gun safety provisions

John –

On September 11, 2008, my niece Michele Cosner Davis was shot and killed by her estranged husband while driving down Interstate 235 in Des Moines. She was 41 years old.

A few weeks before, Michele called to ask me how she could keep herself safe while she was leaving him. She knew he was violent, and she knew he had guns. She had even asked a judge for a restraining order against him. My advice to her, stemming from my own experience as a survivor of domestic violence, was to change her route so he wouldn't know where to find her.

It wasn't enough.

We were all left wondering why her estranged husband was allowed to keep his guns even though he had a history of abuse. The system failed to protect her. But now the Senate has the chance to protect other women.

Earlier this year, the U.S. House voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and included provisions to help keep guns out of the hands of abusers, which would help protect victims of domestic violence like my niece Michele. Now it's the Senate's turn — and it's important that the Senate version also includes life-saving gun safety provisions. Tell your senators that the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act must include life-saving gun safety provisions.

The gun safety provisions would close the boyfriend loophole, alert local law enforcement when domestic abusers attempt to buy guns and fail a background check, and close a loophole that currently allows people convicted of stalking to possess guns. In our country, the boyfriend loophole has become increasingly deadly. American women are now just as likely to be killed by dating partners as by spouses.

We can no longer afford to ignore the deadly connection between guns and domestic violence. It's time for the Senate to stand up and protect women like my niece. Our leaders must act to make America a safer place for all women.

Connie Simmons
Everytown Survivor Network
Iowa Chapter, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

P.S. If you are a survivor of gun violence or have a loved one who has been wounded or killed by gun violence, you can share your story on our Moments That Survive Memory Wall with the stories of other survivors of gun violence.