WASHINGTON,DC  — The Supreme  Court ruled on several cases Monday, involving, redistricting,  government officials and gun ownership.

Guns and domestic violence

The court ruled Monday against a Maine resident who argued he should not have been stripped of his ability to possess a firearm despite a prior domestic violence charge in state court.

Stephen Voisine pled guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in 2004 against a girlfriend. Five years later, he was investigated for shooting a bald eagle and as part of the investigation he turned over a firearm to authorities.

After reviewing his criminal record, Voisine was then charged with unlawful possession of a firearm pursuant to a federal law which makes it unlawful for a person who has been convicted of a "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" to possess a firearm or ammunition.

Lawyers for Voisine argued that his misdemeanor offense did not rise to the level to trigger the federal law.

The justices agreed to take the case to interpret the reach of a federal statute. But Justice Clarence Thomas during oral arguments was also interested in the 2nd Amendment implications, breaking in to ask a series of questions for the first time in 10 years during oral arguments.

The three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Voisine and another defendant, holding that the "question before us is a narrow one."

Congress recognized that "guns and domestic violence are a lethal combination," the panel said.

While philosophically I disagree with any law that prohibits man from obtaining or possessing a tool, pragmatically and procedurally I feel the court ruled correctly in this case, and especially in this political climate.

The law is pretty clear here.  The only real question was one of scope.

I also disagree, do your time and if it's a non violent felony your gun and voting rights should be restored.

I say let the woman he abused answer if he should get to keep his guns.
She may not have a problem with it.
Or maybe he kicked the crap out of her and plead down to a misdemeanor.
Domestic violence and firearms is a dangerous combination just like booze and firearms.
There is no black and white in every situation.