The Health Divide: More than half of Black women face partner violence at some point. A new gun rule could make it worse.
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Balloons and flowers outside of the home of Victoria Truss during a vigil on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Shorewood, Wisconsin.
(Photo by Jovanny Hernandez /Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Published on
July 28, 2025
The rise in domestic violence homicides involving guns should prompt urgent action. Relaxing laws that could let guns into the hands of thousands of people who were previously banned from owning them does the opposite.
Here are some recent domestic violence incidents that have made headlines:
Victoria Truss, 34, from Shorewood, Wisconsin, was shot four times and killed by her ex-boyfriend on July 3 while she was attempting to end their relationship. When officers arrived at the scene, the suspect, Michael Griffin, opened fire on them and subsequently led police on a high-speed chase. He died in a shootout with officers several miles away.
Earlier, a 29-year-old mother from Maryland, Sharita Cristwell, was shot and killed during an argument with her ex-boyfriend on July 5. Before that, Kayelyn Ford, 22, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was shot and killed on May 19 by her ex-boyfriend just moments after she informed deputies that he had tried to enter her apartment using an old key.
“Domestic violence is way out of control right now" said Antonio Truss, the brother of Victoria Truss.
More than half of homicides involving Black women are connected to intimate partner violence.
According to the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, nearly 54% of Black women experience intimate partner violence at some point in their lives, including physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking , compared to just over 48% of white women, 42% of Hispanic women, and nearly 58% of Native American women.
Amid these concerning stats, the Justice Department announced on July 18 that it has proposed a new rule that could give gun rights to thousands of Americans who are currently barred from owning firearms. That gives fresh urgency to journalistic coverage of these issues, which too often fails to capture the devastating impacts of domestic violence on women and families.
“The DOJ-proposed rule would create a pathway for individuals with criminal convictions to have their gun rights restored, with final discretion left to the attorney general on a case-by-case basis,” Newsweek reported last week.
The rule would allow individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence offenses to apply for their gun rights once 10 years have passed since completing their sentence or probation.
“Domestic violence is on the rise, and we need to focus more on it,” said Natalie Hayden, co-founder of ExPosed Inc., a nonprofit that grew out of a podcast focused on youth and fostering healthy relationships.
Along with the physical and emotional trauma they face, survivors often deal with a pervasive environment of stigma and silence surrounding their experiences, and victim-blaming attitudes further intensify their struggles, Hayden said. Others face pressure to protect their partner from law enforcement.
As a result, Black survivors often confront a web of obstacles that complicates their ability to seek and receive the help they urgently need. And the changes currently proposed to federal gun laws could make such toxic situations even more combustible.
Gun laws could change under Trump
Victoria, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in Shorewood, took significant steps to protect herself and her 14-year-old son.
During arguments, she would leave her home with her son and stay with family members. She completely severed ties with her ex-boyfriend Griffin and, on May 11, called the police when he arrived armed and refused to leave her home.
Despite her efforts, Griffin continued stalking her.
Griffin fled and was killed hours later in a shootout with the police. When authorities searched his home, they recovered several guns, bullets, casings, cartridges, and holsters. Despite numerous violent incidents linked to Griffin, the District Attorney's office told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that these incidents were never prosecuted. It remains unclear why prosecutors chose not to pursue charges. Victoria’s family members stated Griffin should not have been allowed to own a gun.
Had the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office pursued earlier charges against Griffin, there was a good chance he would have been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year. Such a conviction would have made him ineligible to own a firearm under federal law.
But now that federal law is gaining loopholes. In July, the Justice Department launched an initiative aimed at giving individuals with prior criminal convictions an opportunity to regain their gun rights.
“It’s taken us decades to get to the place where we recognize the risk associated with firearms, and I cannot fathom making a decision that would undo that,” Anna Harper, executive vice president of Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse in Tucson, told The Trace earlier this year.
Although individuals convicted of violent felonies, immigrants, and sex offenders will still face strict bans on firearm ownership, this new rule would allow those previously prohibited from owning guns to appeal to the Attorney General for relief if they can convincingly demonstrate they do not pose a threat to public safety.
“Several people have already had their gun rights restored under Trump's second term, including actor Mel Gibson, who was barred due to his misdemeanor domestic violence conviction in 2011,” Newsweek’s Mandy Taheri and Hannah Parry reported.
The proposed regulation comes as the Trump administration keeps undoing gun control measures put in place by the Biden administration. If the proposed DOJ rule is enacted, it could restore gun rights to millions of Americans, including 1 million people the department expects will apply within the first year of the program.
Give readers resources on DV stories
Journalists play a vital role in revealing the often-hidden issue of domestic violence in our communities.
Reporters can closely track the concerning statistics related to domestic violence in your cities and towns, and explore what kinds of resources and supports are available for those affected by it.
The time when someone decides to leave a domestic violence situation is the most dangerous. Those caught in this situation face tough challenges: Where can they go to escape? How can they ensure their children's safety while breaking free?
At my paper, the Journal Sentinel, we recognize the gravity of these stories. Each time we publish an article about domestic violence, we provide readers with a complete and current list of local services and resources, including phone numbers and addresses.
It is essential that this information stays accessible and isn't hidden behind a paywall.
When lives are on the line, those in urgent need of help must be able to access this lifeline quickly and easily. It could mean the difference between life and death.