The democratic controlled U.S. House passed and reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by a vote of 263 - 158 with 157 republicans voting against the bill including Louisiana's little boy representative Steve Scalise. The democrats added an additional gun safety provision that was not included in the original bill that was passed in 1994. The bill now goes to the republican controlled U.S. Senate for their action and the public will soon find out where the republicans in the Senate stand on the issue.
It should be noted that the NRA urged the republicans in congress to vote against the bill because of the additional gun safety provision. And it was also reported that the NRA contributed $699,000.00 to the republican party during the 2018 congressional cycle while contributing only $19,000.00 to the democratic party. The NRA also warned republicans that a vote for the bill would be reflected in their NRA ratings. This is nothing new but once again a reminder how the NRA has influence over the republican party and their vote.
The original VAWA law of 1994 provided that people convicted of domestic violence against spouses or family members would lose their gun rights. The new bill would add people convicted of abusing their dating partners, closing the so called boyfriend loop hole and also prohibit people convicted of misdemeanors stalking offenses from buying or owning a firearm.
Louisiana's Scalise and other republicans in the House are so out of step on issues concerning women, they allow the NRA to control their votes. The gun lobby will now turn their attention to the republicans in the U.S. Senate to defeat the House passed bill and Louisiana will find out how Louisiana's two republican senators, Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy will vote on the matter, if they vote at all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
