In 2016, the Supreme Court ruled 6-2 that the federal gun ban for people convicted of domestic violence extends to people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence (Voisine v. United States). This extension of the gun ban cleared up confusion about whether or not only people convicted of felony domestic violence would be prohibited from owning firearms or if that would also be imposed on people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.
The ruling for this case is very important for the rights of those who have been accused of domestic violence. Although aimed at preventing future domestic violence, it also has the effect of permanently restricting the rights of Americans who may have been wrongly accused or who pleaded guilty just because the punishment for a misdemeanor didn’t seem like all that much trouble. True, domestic violence is more prevalent than it may seem as 1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. In addition, domestic violence against men by women is on the rise.
Before this ruling, those who were convicted of felony domestic violence were banned from possessing a firearm but it was unclear whether the ramifications extended to misdemeanor convictions. The lack of clarity no longer exists, and the Supreme Court extended this ban to misdemeanor domestic violence too.
Every domestic violence allegation is a big deal, whether felony, misdemeanor, or municipal. The repercussions of a guilty plea without knowing the consequences can be far reaching.
If you have been charged with domestic violence, it is critical to have an experience domestic violence attorney on your side. If you need of a relentless defense attorney for your domestic violence case, call Krizman Law today at 303.529.2677.
Mr. Krizman is a criminal defense attorney in Denver, Colorado. He specializes in providing relentless defense for domestic violence, DUI, and drug crimes. He is a former public defender who has also worked for a district attorney and is licensed in the State of Colorado, and the United States Federal Court, District of Colorado. Mr. Krizman is a member of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, Colorado Bar Association, Denver Bar Association, and Arapahoe County Bar Association. A Colorado native, he has a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in Government and World Affairs from the University of Tampa. Contact him today at 720.819.7317.