Sakhi for South Asian Survivors applauds the recent decision in United States v. Rahimi that upholds a federal law barring anyone subject to a domestic violence restraining order from possessing a gun. This important ruling scrutinizes the intersection of gun ownership rights and the enforcement of protective orders and has profound implications for survivors within our community.
The ruling was made against Zackey Rahimi, who, among other crimes, publicly assaulted his partner and discharged a firearm in a parking lot. A domestic violence protective order was issued against Rahimi, and he was later convicted of possessing a firearm while under this order. Rahimi contested the conviction, stating that it infringed his Second Amendment rights. The Supreme Court upheld a federal law that bars anyone subject to a domestic-violence restraining order from possessing a gun. By a vote of 8-1, SCOTUS ruled that the law does not violate the Constitution’s Second Amendment, which protects the “right of the people to keep and bear Arms.”
Gun violence is a pervasive threat that disproportionately affects communities of color, including South Asian and Indo-Caribbean survivors of gender-based violence. Among South Asians in the US, 50% of the individuals lost to gender-based violence in 2022 died due to gun violence or homicide. The presence of firearms in abusive situations exacerbates the danger, making it more difficult for survivors to seek help and find safety. Many of our community members already face significant barriers due to cultural stigmas, language barriers, and immigration status, which are further compounded by the threat of patriarchal gun violence. This is painfully underscored as our community still grieves the lives of the late Vipanpal Multani and Karamjit Multani, whose lives were recently lost in an act of domestic violence involving firearms in New York’s Richmond Hill District, where roughly 26% of the population is Asian.
At Sakhi, we understand the devastating impact of gun violence on survivors of gender-based violence. The fear and trauma associated with such violence can have long-lasting effects on individuals and their families, affecting their physical and mental health, economic stability, and overall well-being.
We stand in solidarity with all survivors and call for continued efforts to address and mitigate the dangers posed by weaponized violence. Collective safety for survivors should always outweigh the rights of individuals to possess firearms.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or needs support,
please contact Sakhi at (212) 868-6741 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 for assistance.