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Gun control activists gather in the Founders Plaza at Levitt Pavilion in Arlington to talk about the Supreme Court ruling of the United States v. Rahimi case on June 24, 2024. (Ryan Thorpe | Fort Worth Report)
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Across Tarrant County, officials and activists say a Supreme Court ruling with an Arlington connection will protect domestic violence survivors from gun violence.

In its 8-1 decision on the United States v. Rahimi case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a 1994 federal law prohibiting domestic violence perpetrators from owning firearms is constitutional. 

Justice Clarence Thomas was the only dissenter. He said that no historical laws justified restricting gun ownership to convicted abusers.

The case was opened after a domestic violence perpetrator was convicted of five different shootings around the Arlington area in 2020. His conviction came while he was subject to a protective order.

Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells, a Republican, supported the ruling. 

“Our office was proud to file an amicus brief helping to defend this important law and ensure the safety of some of the most vulnerable crime victims in our community,” Sorrells said. 

Kathryn Jacob, president and CEO of SafeHaven, Tarrant County’s only state-designated domestic violence shelter, was thrilled with the result.

“Eight to one is not something you see on high-profile cases every day,” Jacob said. “We are really grateful that the court saw this the way most Americans see it.”

Three days after the Supreme Court ruling, a group of gun control activists gathered in Founders Plaza outside of Arlington City Hall to celebrate the decision and use it as a vehicle for further action. 

Glenn Javins, a member of Moms Demand Action, was relieved when he heard the decision. 

“This decision confirms that domestic abusers like him may not have the constitutional right to possess a gun,” Javins said. “It also ensures domestic violence nationwide will maintain a core protection against gun violence.”

Alicia Hawley-Bernardez, a social worker and intimate partner violence victim advocate, has seen the effects of domestic violence firsthand.

“Gun violence at the hands of an abuser is a matter of life,” Hawley-Bernardez said. “This landmark ruling is a crucial victory for the safety of our survivors.”

SafeHaven is the only state designated domestic violence shelter in Tarrant County. If you or a loved one need help with domestic violence, call their 24-hour hotline at 1-877-701-7233.

Ryan Thorpe is an audience engagement fellow at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at ryan.thorpe@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.