ARS STATEMENT ON NRA’S OPPOSITION TO LEGISLATION TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF STALKERS’ HANDS

June 25, 2014

June 25, 2014 – Hayley Zachary, Executive Director of Americans for Responsible Solutions, issued the following statement regarding the NRA’s stated opposition to S. 1290, legislation that would protect women and families by ensuring that individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking, sexual assault, and harassment are prohibited from buying guns.

“Protecting women from gun violence means ensuring we have laws that keep guns out of the hands of stalkers and domestic abusers. By opposing this commonsense bill, Wayne LaPierre and the NRA leadership has once again shown it is out of step with the vast majority of Americans and responsible gun owners. For example, research we conducted this year in Texas – a state with a long tradition of gun ownership – found that a majority of Texas voters support policies that keep guns out of the hands of stalkers,” said ARS Executive Director Hayley Zachary. “Domestic violence doesn’t consist merely of ‘disputes between family members and social acquaintances.’ Domestic violence is a pattern of violent behavior that statistics show often results in death and injury – especially when an abuser is permitted to have a gun. Apparently, the NRA disagrees with its regularly stated view that ‘people kill people’ and is comfortable with stalkers being allowed to buy guns. Now, the question for NRA-backed candidates around the country is: do they share the NRA’s position?”

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