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U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), along with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation aimed at closing the ‘boyfriend loophole,’ which allows stalkers and abusers to access guns because they weren’t married to their victim. The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act prevents convicted stalkers, and all former dating partners convicted of a domestic violence offense, from buying or owning firearms, regardless of when the relationship occurred. 

“Federal law includes a 'boyfriend loophole' that allows abusive dating partners subject to protection orders and convicted stalkers to access firearms. This loophole is a serious danger that has cost lives and will continue to do so until we address it,” said Dingell. “I know this fear all too well. Growing up, I lived in a house with a man – my father – who should not have had access to a gun. No child, spouse, or partner should have to experience the trauma my family did. This legislation will close this loophole once and for all by ensuring abusive dating partners subject to protection orders and convicted stalkers cannot get their hands on a firearm. Perpetrators of violence – including dating partners – should not be able to access a firearm, and I will not stop fighting until we can deliver on this promise.”

“If someone has been convicted of stalking or abusing their partner, they should never be allowed to buy a gun. That’s common sense. But unfortunately, loopholes in federal law still put survivors at risk," said Fitzpatrick. "This bill closes those gaps, ensuring all violent offenders are held to the same standard—spouse, boyfriend, or otherwise. I’ve long made combatting domestic violence and stalking a priority and will continue advancing policies to guarantee every survivor is protected.”

“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act included provisions from my bill to close the boyfriend loophole, but there is still more we need to do to address gun violence and keep firearms out of the hands of abusive dating partners and convicted stalkers,” said Klobuchar. “As a former prosecutor, I have seen firsthand the serious emotional and physical toll stalking takes on victims, especially when guns are involved. By preventing convicted stalkers from purchasing guns, our common sense legislation will protect victims and help save lives.”

The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act would:

• Prevent those convicted of certain stalking offenses from purchasing firearms;
• Clarify that abusive dating partners subject to certain court orders are treated the same as an abusive spouse;
• Update the definition of “dating relationship” for purposes of federal firearm prohibitions to include “individuals who have or have had a continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature,” regardless of when the relationship occurred. The law currently requires that the dating relationship is “recent,” which could exclude abusers convicted of domestic violence against partners from a prior relationship.

This bill is endorsed by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Moms Demand Action, GIFFORDS, Jewish Women International, and Legal Momentum. 

“Victims and survivors of domestic violence in any intimate or dating relationship, regardless of marital status, are vulnerable to the threat of firearms. Every day, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) hears from those whose abusive experiences include the use of firearms to threaten, coerce, and control them. And tragically, thousands of victims have lost their lives by firearms,” said Marium Durrani, Vice President of Policy at The Hotline. “We applaud the incredible bipartisan dedication of these Members of Congress to finally close these dangerous loopholes to better protect victims and survivors from gun violence and we urge Congress to act— lives are on the line.”

“Survivors of dating violence and stalking deserve the full protection of the law, regardless of their relationship status. For too long, a dangerous loophole has allowed abusive partners and stalkers who are not married to their victims to access firearms, despite posing clear threats to survivor safety," said NNEDV President and CEO, Stephanie Love-Patterson. "This gap in our laws has had deadly consequences. Abuse is abuse, whether it happens within a marriage or not. Every survivor deserves safety, justice, and the opportunity to rebuild their life free from fear. We applaud Representatives Dingell and Fitzpatrick, and Senator Klobuchar, for their leadership and for taking this critical step toward saving lives.”

“Letting abusers keep their guns is a death sentence for too many women—especially Black women," said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. "This bill is a life-saving solution, and we’re proud to support its reintroduction. We can’t claim to care about families and freedom while ignoring the deadly intersection of domestic violence and firearms.”

"Our laws have big loopholes in them that make it easier for domestic abusers to get guns and have very real consequences for victims of domestic violence and stalking. This is an unacceptable and dangerous reality that puts the lives of women and children at risk across the country," said Emma Brown, Executive Director at GIFFORDS. "95% of Americans support blocking domestic abusers from having guns, including 94% of Republicans. We are grateful to Senator Klobuchar and Representatives Debbie Dingell and Brian Fitzpatrick for their steadfast leadership on this issue."

“The risk of a woman being killed by her intimate partner increases 400% when that partner has access to a firearm. But most victims of intimate partner violence are dating partners and under current law do not have the same protections from armed abusers as married survivors do," said Meredith Jacobs, CEO of Jewish Women International. "Jewish Women International applauds Representatives Debbie Dingell and Brian Fitzpatrick and Senator Amy Klobuchar for re-introducing legislation that will fully close the dating and stalking loopholes and for their ongoing leadership to disarm domestic abusers.”

“For far too long, survivors of dating violence and stalking have been left exposed by a glaring weakness in our gun safety laws—the so-called ‘boyfriend loophole.’ This bipartisan legislation represents a long-overdue step toward protecting all survivors, regardless of relationship status. By finally closing this loophole, we can stop known abusers from accessing deadly weapons and interrupt the cycle of violence before it escalates further,” said Azaleea Carlea, Legal Director of Legal Momentum. “The data is undeniable: when abusers have access to firearms, the risk of homicide increases fivefold. The link between guns and lethality in intimate partner violence is not just well-documented, it’s devastatingly clear and our laws must reflect this reality. Legal Momentum strongly supports this legislation because no survivor should be left unprotected simply because the law failed to recognize their relationship or the threats they face. Safety should never depend on a legal technicality."