The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday upheld federal law that prohibits people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from owning or possessing firearms.
In a 6-2 ruling, with Justice Clarence Thomas dissenting and Justice Sonia Sotomayor joining him in part, the high court upheld a federal appeals court ruling in a case called Voisine v. United States. It involved the cases of two men who had pleaded guilty to domestic violence, but argued that they should not be disqualified from owning or possessing firearms. One of the men, Stephen Voisine, also got in trouble years after the assault on his girlfriend, but this time it was for killing a bald eagle, the ruling noted.
It was a case watched closely by gun rights groups because it essentially turns a state-level misdemeanor into a federal crime over which one can lose their Second Amendment rights.
The majority opinion was written by Justice Elena Kagan.
