McMorris Rodgers, Newhouse vote no on Violence Against Women Act
The U.S. House of Representatives, by a big margin, voted Thursday to renew the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), with two Eastern Washington Republicans -- U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse -- voting No.
A third Washington Republican in the delegation, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, voted Yes, as did the state's seven Democratic House members. The legislation passed on a 263-158 vote. The Senate has yet to act.
The National Rifle Association had drawn a bead on VAWA over two provisions designed to protect women from domestic abuse. Its opposition "gave cover" to Republicans wanting to vote No.
The legislation was expanded to bar persons with misdemeanor convictions of domestic abuse or stalking from purchasing a firearm. The VAWA law currently applies only to those convicted of felonies.
The new VAWA also closes the so-called "boyfriend loophole," expanding existing prohibitions on firearms purchase to those convicted of abuse and stalking who have been in a relationship but were not married.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/mcmorris-rodgers-newhouse-vote-no-on-violence-against-women-act/ar-BBVCVjm
