McBath, Democratic Women’s Caucus, Thompson, Dingell Highlight Domestic Violence Solutions During Gun Violence Prevention Month

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (D‑GA‑06), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Crime Subcommittee and a member of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, convened a press conference to spotlight common‑sense, evidence‑based tools proven to prevent domestic violence. The event, titled “Stopping Domestic Violence with Common‑Sense Tools,” highlighted key legislative efforts during Gun Violence Awareness & Prevention Month. Rep. McBath leads the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (FERPO), legislation that empowers loved ones and law enforcement to intervene in moments of crisis through federal “red-flag” laws. Members participating included Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM‑03), Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Mike Thompson (CA‑04), and Co‑Chair of the Bipartisan Working Group to End Domestic Violence Debbie Dingell (MI‑06). The full video of the press conference can be found here . “Every day in this country, survivors of domestic violence are navigating a terrifying reality. Too often, the most dangerous moment is when a victim tries to leave an abuser. When a gun is present, that danger becomes deadly,” said Rep. McBath. “I know the pain of gun violence personally. My son Jordan was taken from me, and that loss drives every step of my work. Red flag laws save lives. They empower loved ones and give law enforcement the tools to intervene before a crisis becomes a tragedy. During Gun Violence Awareness & Prevention Month, we are calling on our Republican colleagues to bring this legislation to the floor. The American people deserve better.  They have been crying out for safety, for humanity, and for action. I am grateful to my colleagues with the Democratic Women’s Caucus, the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and the Bipartisan Working Group to End Domestic Violence for standing in this fight. We have never forgotten the families who carry this trauma, and we will not stop until life‑saving tools are available to every community. Together, we will protect the American people.” “We will never forget the victims of domestic violence because we owe them that. Their pain does not disappear,” said Rep. Leger Fernández . “Every month, more than 70 women in America are shot and killed by an intimate partner. Nearly six million women have had a gun used against them by someone who claimed to love them. Those who survive are left with deep emotional scars, and too many never get the chance to rebuild their lives. These tragedies are not inevitable. They are preventable. That is why we are calling on House Republican leadership to bring bipartisan, life‑saving legislation to the floor. There are simple, common‑sense steps we can take right now to protect our communities that the Democratic Women’s Caucus is fighting for every day. Let’s protect everybody in every community.” “I’m here today because this legislation will save lives and I’m here because of Jordan, and because of every family shattered by gun violence,” said Rep. Thompson. “Make no mistake: intimate partner violence and gun violence are deeply intertwined. In America, a woman is killed by her partner every twelve hours. That’s unacceptable and we have tools to help stop this crisis. Red flag laws are one of those tools that help us save lives by allowing law enforcement and loved ones to act before a crisis turns deadly. We need universal background checks, as well. Background checks are fast, constitutional, popular, and serve as the first line of defense to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a danger to themselves or others. We can protect so many people if we simply choose to act and I urge my Republican colleagues to bring Rep. McBath’s red flag legislation and my background checks legislation to the floor for a vote.” “I grew up in a home where my father should never have had access to a gun. No child should ever have to live through that. People do not understand the scars it leaves on families,” said Rep. Dingell. “When someone is convicted of domestic violence, they should not have access to a firearm. We know the facts: when a gun is present in a domestic violence situation, the risk of homicide increases fivefold. Red flag laws work. They give law enforcement the ability to keep families safe before violence erupts. This bill is about protecting families and communities. No one should be afraid to vote for it.”