A House Democrat is pushing to expand a weapons ban for perpetrators of domestic violence.

Rep. Lois Capps contends the current prohibition – which can apply to spouses and cohabitants subject to restraining orders, but not to dating partners – is insufficient. The California lawmaker has introduced legislation that would extend the gun ban to cases when the victim and abuser were romantically linked but never married, lived together or had children.

The change, Capps said, "would ensure that all abused women, whether married or not, are provided the same protections."

“Our current legal system makes an arbitrary distinction between protections for dating partners and protections for spouses and ex-spouses, creating a loophole in our gun laws and increasing danger for domestic violence victims and survivors," Capps said this week in a statement. "An abusive ex-boyfriend with a gun is no less lethal than an abusive ex-husband with a gun."

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/288925-house-dems-bill-would-extend-gun-ban-in-domestic-abuse-cases#ixzz2NzxYI9au