Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and Senator Amy Klobuchar have introduced the Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act. This bipartisan bill aims to address a gap in federal law that currently allows abusive dating partners and convicted stalkers access to firearms.
Under existing legislation, individuals convicted of domestic violence against a spouse are prohibited from possessing firearms. However, this restriction does not consistently apply to abusive dating partners or convicted stalkers—a disparity known as the “boyfriend loophole.” The proposed bill seeks to correct this by aligning protections with the realities faced by survivors.
“If someone has been convicted of stalking or abusing their partner, they should never be allowed to buy a gun. That’s common sense,” said Fitzpatrick. “This bill closes those gaps, ensuring all violent offenders are held to the same standard—spouse, boyfriend, or otherwise.”
Dingell emphasized the danger posed by the loophole: “Federal law includes a ‘boyfriend loophole’ that allows abusive dating partners subject to protection orders and convicted stalkers to access firearms. This loophole is a serious danger that has cost lives and will continue to do so until we address it.”
Klobuchar highlighted her experience as a former prosecutor: “The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act included provisions from my bill to close the boyfriend loophole… By preventing convicted stalkers from purchasing guns, our common-sense legislation will protect victims and help save lives.”
Key provisions of the act include prohibiting individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking offenses from purchasing or possessing firearms and clarifying that dating partners under restraining orders receive equal treatment under federal firearms law.
The bill is supported by organizations such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Moms Demand Action, GIFFORDS, Jewish Women International, and Legal Momentum. Stephanie Love-Patterson of NNEDV stated: “Survivors of dating violence and stalking deserve full protection of the law… Every survivor deserves safety.”
Marium Durrani from The Hotline noted: “Victims and survivors… are vulnerable to threats involving firearms.” Angela Ferrell-Zabala added: “Letting abusers keep their guns is a death sentence for too many women—especially Black women.”
Emma Brown at GIFFORDS remarked on public support for blocking domestic abusers from having guns: “95% of Americans support blocking domestic abusers from having guns.” Meredith Jacobs stressed that most victims are dating partners who lack protections afforded married survivors.
Azaleea Carlea pointed out that closing this loophole could prevent escalation in violence cycles: “By finally closing this loophole… we can stop known abusers from accessing deadly weapons.”
Research shows access to firearms increases lethality in domestic violence cases significantly. More than half of women murdered with guns in America are killed by intimate partners. This legislation builds on prior progress made through initiatives like the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
