Moms Demand Action Applauds Governor Snyder’s Veto of Dangerous Gun Legislation Pushed by NRA

Lansing, MI – In response to Governor Snyder’s veto of S.B. 789 – legislation pushed by the NRA that would undermine vital protections for domestic violence and stalking victims by allowing some of their abusers to carry loaded, concealed handguns – Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America released the following statement:

“After years of operating in state legislatures unchecked, the NRA’s agenda of putting gun manufacturers’ profits above the safety of women is now being defeated in state after state,” said Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “A recent study of women killed by their intimate partners showed that one out of five women who had an active restraining order were killed within two days of receiving it. Guns and domestic violence are a deadly combination that Governor Snyder rightfully rejected by vetoing this dangerous legislation. Michigan women and families will be safer for it.”

“We applaud Governor Snyder’s leadership in standing up to the NRA to protect an important safeguard in Michigan law that keeps guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and stalkers,” said Kristen Moore, a volunteer with the Michigan Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.  “Keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers is a common sense policy that respects the Second Amendment and saves lives.”

Over the past two weeks, Moms Demand Action and Everytown used phone calls and social media to urge Governor Snyder to veto the bill. Supporters made 800 phone calls into the Governor’s office, sent thousands of tweets to the Governor, and tens of thousands shared calls to action on Facebook.  Moms also released a statement following the bill’s passage, condemning the dangerous legislation that “would put Michigan women and communities at risk.”  Domestic violence prevention advocates strongly urged Governor Snyder to veto the bill as well.

Governor Snyder’s veto carries the momentum of key 2014 victories into the new year.  Six states – Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin – passed critical legislation to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers last year.

Further Research on Guns and Domestic Violence

• Women in the U.S. are 11 times more likely to be murdered with guns than women in other high-income countries
• 57 percent of mass shootings involve incidents of domestic violence
• 54 percent of women killed with guns are killed by intimate partners or family members

You can find more research on the connection between guns and domestic violence here.