Federal Law Expands Domestic Violence Protections, Bars Misdemeanor Stalkers from Owning Guns

The “Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025” is straightforward: it closes serious gaps in federal law regarding who is protected from domestic violence and who should be prohibited from possessing firearms. The bill updates Title 18 of the U.S. Code to reflect the realities of modern relationships and the dangers of stalking.

Closing the Dating Loophole

For years, federal law primarily focused on protecting spouses and cohabiting partners, often missing people in serious dating relationships. This bill fixes that by explicitly broadening the definition of an “intimate partner” to include individuals who are or were in a “continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature” with the abuser (Sec. 2). This means if you were in a committed relationship but never married or lived together, you are now clearly covered under federal domestic violence protections. This is a crucial update, acknowledging that abuse happens in all serious relationships, not just those with legal paperwork.

Protecting the Kids

The bill also extends protections to children in a way that matters for blended families and single parents. If someone commits a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against a child, it now counts if the abuser was in a dating relationship with the child’s parent or guardian (Sec. 2). This ensures that an abuser who targets a child to control or punish their parent—a common tactic in domestic violence—is subject to the same federal penalties and restrictions.

Stalking Convictions Now Block Gun Ownership

This is the biggest practical change: the bill adds misdemeanor stalking convictions to the list of offenses that prohibit a person from possessing or receiving firearms under federal law (Sec. 2). Previously, only felony convictions or misdemeanor domestic violence convictions triggered this prohibition. Now, if a person is convicted of a misdemeanor crime of stalking—defined as a pattern of harassment, intimidation, or surveillance that causes reasonable fear of harm or emotional distress—they lose their gun rights.

To ensure fairness, the bill includes important due process safeguards. This firearm prohibition only applies if the person had legal counsel during the stalking case or knowingly waived their right to one. If they were entitled to a jury trial, they must have either had one or knowingly waived it. This prevents the federal government from stripping a person’s gun rights based on a minor, low-level conviction where they may not have received adequate legal representation.

What This Means for Everyday Life

For survivors of stalking, this bill is a major win for safety. Stalking is often a precursor to physical violence, and removing firearms from convicted stalkers enhances public safety. For the legal system, the new definition of "misdemeanor crime of stalking"—which requires a pattern of behavior causing fear or emotional distress—adds clarity, though the term "pattern of harassment" may still require some interpretation in the courts. However, the requirement that the conviction must not have been expunged or set aside provides a clear pathway for individuals to restore their rights if their record is cleared. Overall, this legislation tightens legal definitions and closes critical safety loopholes, making federal protections more aligned with the dangers faced by survivors today.