“The PPO’s didn’t stop my ex’s threats that he would kill me. Nor did they take that gun away.
Gabby Dunai is a with Resilience Advocates for Ending Violence survivor of domestic violence.
“The gun was the barrier to reaching out to law enforcement. As long as I always knew my ex had that gun within reach, I needed to take his death threats seriously.”
Michigan Senate and House bills would prohibit all those convicted of felony or misdemeanor domestic violence from purchasing or possessing firearms for 8 years after their sentence. At Bethlehem Lutheran Church, State Rep. Kristian Grant, a Democrat from Grand Rapids says the proposed legislation will save lives.
“Just a few weeks ago in my district, the 82nd (House) District in Southeast Grand Rapids, a woman’s life was taken. She issued the Protection Order. She filed for divorce. She moved her children and still she was not safe. Her abuser had access to a gun and that’s how he killed her. And her kids, her four beautiful children have to live without her every single day.”
End Gun Violence Michigan reports, “Domestic abusers kill 50 women and 20 children each year with firearms in Michigan. Domestic violence is 5 times more likely to turn deadly if the abuser owns a gun. In Michigan each year, 30%-40% of all female firearm deaths are due to intimate partner violence.”