Gun Talks Snag on Tricky Question: What Counts as a Boyfriend?

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Gun Talks Snag on Tricky Question: What Counts as a Boyfriend?​

WASHINGTON — Among the sticking points standing in the way of a final deal on what could be the first significant bipartisan gun safety legislation in decades is an age-old question: How do you define a boyfriend?

The question may sound frivolous, but for a small group of Republicans and Democrats who are pressing to translate a hard-won compromise on guns into legislation that can draw 60 votes in the Senate, it is vital. And for millions of women who have been threatened with a firearm by an intimate partner, it is deadly serious.
At issue is a provision in the proposed agreement that would make it more difficult for domestic abusers to obtain guns.

Current law bars people convicted of domestic violence or subject to a domestic violence restraining order from being able to buy a gun, but it applies only if they have been married to or lived with the victim, or had a child with them. Lawmakers have worked unsuccessfully for years to close what has come to be known as the “boyfriend loophole” by expanding the law to include other intimate partners. Taking such a step is seen as one of the more publicly popular and effective ways to reduce gun violence.

But first, lawmakers must agree on what exactly makes someone an intimate partner. Is it one date or several? Could an ex-boyfriend count?

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Other senators have raised questions about whether the provision should be retroactive, or whether someone barred from purchasing a gun under the measure, particularly because of a misdemeanor, should have an opportunity to appeal — and how long they must wait before they can do so.

“A lot of our members, as you know, are always concerned about making sure that there is robust due process built into some of those provisions, and so I think that’ll be really key on that one,” Mr. Thune said.
 
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Folks in another topic the question was how vague can these laws be . IF this passes could an old flame bring up a questionable act that happened decades ago .. Say when one was in your teen years... I know a person that his girlfriend was angry .. Wanted to walk home in below zero weather ... Friend grabbed her arm and told her he would drive her home but she was no way walking home in that weather... ... By grabbing that arm under these new laws ... No guns for you. If she decided she wanted to . harm you years later. .. Thoughts ?
 
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livingston said:
Folks in another topic the question was how vague can these laws be . IF this passes could an old flame bring up a questionable act that happened decades ago .. Say when one was in your teen years... I know a person that his girlfriend was angry .. Wanted to walk home in below zero weather ... Friend grabbed her arm and told her he would drive her home but she was no way walking home in that weather... ... By grabbing that arm under these new laws ... No guns for you. If she decided she wanted to . harm you years later. .. Thoughts ?
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You know the language will be interpreted in the broadest way possible.
 
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livingston said:

Gun Talks Snag on Tricky Question: What Counts as a Boyfriend?​

WASHINGTON — Among the sticking points standing in the way of a final deal on what could be the first significant bipartisan gun safety legislation in decades is an age-old question: How do you define a boyfriend?

The question may sound frivolous, but for a small group of Republicans and Democrats who are pressing to translate a hard-won compromise on guns into legislation that can draw 60 votes in the Senate, it is vital. And for millions of women who have been threatened with a firearm by an intimate partner, it is deadly serious.
At issue is a provision in the proposed agreement that would make it more difficult for domestic abusers to obtain guns.

Current law bars people convicted of domestic violence or subject to a domestic violence restraining order from being able to buy a gun, but it applies only if they have been married to or lived with the victim, or had a child with them. Lawmakers have worked unsuccessfully for years to close what has come to be known as the “boyfriend loophole” by expanding the law to include other intimate partners. Taking such a step is seen as one of the more publicly popular and effective ways to reduce gun violence.

But first, lawmakers must agree on what exactly makes someone an intimate partner. Is it one date or several? Could an ex-boyfriend count?

Home

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But....but...what if he identifies as a girlfriend?
 
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livingston said:

Gun Talks Snag on Tricky Question: What Counts as a Boyfriend?​

WASHINGTON — Among the sticking points standing in the way of a final deal on what could be the first significant bipartisan gun safety legislation in decades is an age-old question: How do you define a boyfriend?

The question may sound frivolous, but for a small group of Republicans and Democrats who are pressing to translate a hard-won compromise on guns into legislation that can draw 60 votes in the Senate, it is vital. And for millions of women who have been threatened with a firearm by an intimate partner, it is deadly serious.
At issue is a provision in the proposed agreement that would make it more difficult for domestic abusers to obtain guns.

Current law bars people convicted of domestic violence or subject to a domestic violence restraining order from being able to buy a gun, but it applies only if they have been married to or lived with the victim, or had a child with them. Lawmakers have worked unsuccessfully for years to close what has come to be known as the “boyfriend loophole” by expanding the law to include other intimate partners. Taking such a step is seen as one of the more publicly popular and effective ways to reduce gun violence.

But first, lawmakers must agree on what exactly makes someone an intimate partner. Is it one date or several? Could an ex-boyfriend count?

Home

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What about girl friends? Girls get angry and violent too, don't they?
 
Darth

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Who could have possibly seen an issue with just being able to use language and terms however you want!? :O
 
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