Federal gun laws covering domestic violence would expand to include current and former dating partners, not just spouses, cohabitants, and people who share a child. Children of a dating partner would also be covered under the federal definition of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. A new category, "misdemeanor crime of stalking," would bar people convicted of qualifying stalking offenses from buying or possessing firearms, with protections requiring counsel and a jury trial (or knowing waiver). The bill applies to victims, immediate family, household members, intimate partners, and even their pets or service animals.
Civil Liberties
- Federal firearm prohibition — Extended to dating partners and misdemeanor stalking convictions
Criminal Justice & Due Process
- Federal stalking prohibitor — New misdemeanor category triggers gun ban with counsel and jury safeguards
Congressional Summary
Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025This bill extends federal restrictions on the receipt, possession, shipment, and transportation of firearms and ammunition to new types of stalking and domestic violence offenders.Specifically, the bill extends federal firearms-related restrictions to individuals who are convicted of a misdemeanor crime of stalking. The term misdemeanor crime of stalking means a federal, state, tribal, or local offense involving harassment, intimidation, or surveillance that (1) causes emotional distress; or (2) places a person in reasonable fear of harm to themselves, an immediate family member, a current or former cohabitant, an intimate partner, or a pet.Additionally, the bill extends federal firearms-related restrictions to individuals who are subject to a domestic violence protection order that restrains them from harassing, stalking, or threatening a current or former dating partner (regardless of when the relationship occurred) or an individual similarly situated to a spouse. Currently, the restrictions only apply if the domestic violence protection order restrains the individual from harassing, stalking, or threatening a co-parent, a current or former spouse, or a current or former cohabitant.Finally, the bill extends federal firearms-related restrictions to individuals who commit a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against the child of a current or recent former dating partner. Currently, the restrictions only apply if the offense is committed against a current or recent former dating partner.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-06-26
- Date Added
- 2026-05-21
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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