WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Thursday to reauthorize a 25-year-old law that helps victims of domestic and sexual violence, despite complaints by Republicans that Democrats were politicizing the popular law by expanding gun control. The bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act includes a provision making it easier to take away guns from violent offenders even if they are not a spouse or domestic partner. Supporters said the measure was crucial to protect women in the United States, who die from gun violence at rates far higher than other high-income countries. Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the second-ranking House Republican, accused Speaker Nancy Pelosi of intentionally allowing the domestic violence law to expire in February despite bipartisan support for extending it. A spokeswoman for the NRA said the group “opposes domestic violence and all violent crime” and spends millions of dollars every year teaching Americans how to safely use firearms for self-defense.

Source: Huffington Post April 04, 2019 17:15 UTC