Voisine v. United States

Voisine v. United States

Argued February 29, 2016
Decided June 27, 2016
Full case name Stephen L. Voisine and William E. Armstrong III, Petitioners v. United States
Docket nos. 14–10154
Citations

579 U.S. ___ (more)

Opinion announcement Opinion announcement
Holding
Reckless misdemeanor domestic violence convictions trigger gun control prohibitions on gun ownership.
Court membership
Chief Justice
John G. Roberts
Case opinions
Majority Kagan, joined by Roberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito
Dissent Thomas, joined by Sotomayor (parts I, II)

Voisine v. United States, 579 U.S. ___ (2016), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that reckless misdemeanor domestic violence convictions trigger gun control prohibitions on gun ownership.[1][2][3]

Background

In 2009, an anonymous caller in Maine notified officials that a bald eagle had been shot in Kingman.[4] Investigating officers discovered the primary suspect, Stephen L. Voisine, was not legally permitted to possess a firearm. [4] His prior domestic violence conviction barred him from possessing a gun, resulting from the Lautenberg Amendment signed into law in 1996.[5] During Voisine's interrogation, he admitted to shooting the eagle. Subsequently, officials discovered his 28-year criminal record included 14 convictions for assault and domestic violence. [4]

Voisine joined William Armstrong III to argue that their "reckless" domestic violence convictions should not have precluded them from owning guns in the first place.[5][6]

Opinion of the Court

Associate Justice Elena Kagan authored the 6-2 majority opinion. Justices Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor were the dissenters.

References

  1. ↑ "How Bad Does Domestic Violence Have to Be Before You Can't Have a Gun?". 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  2. ↑ "Supreme Court Rules Domestic Abusers Can Lose Their Gun-Ownership Rights".
  3. ↑ Lopez, German (27 June 2016). "The Supreme Court quietly handed gun control advocates a small victory".
  4. 1 2 3 "How Bad Does Domestic Violence Have to Be Before You Can't Have a Gun?". 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  5. 1 2 "The Supreme Court Is Taking a Case That Could Let 'Unintentional' Domestic Abusers Own Guns". 2015-10-30. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  6. ↑ Melissa Jeltsen Senior Reporter, The Huffington Post (2016-02-26). "Domestic Abusers Take Their Fight To Own Guns To The Supreme Court". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-06-27.

External links

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