Intrafamily Offense

[Eckington202]

Hi all,

Does anyone know what "intrafamily offense" actually means under DC law, and does any offense involving a family member or someone you were dating disqualify a DC resident from owning a firearm? The language is very vague and broad, but it reads as if it encompasses ALL offenses. If this is not accurate, what offenses under the intrafamily umbrella actually prohibit gun ownership? Is it subjective?

Also, I know this is a question for an attorney, but I thought I'd see if anyone has any familiarity with the definition. And if anyone has a good recommendation for a lawyer that handles gun ownership questions, please let me know. Thank you in advance.

 

[RoadDawg]

I’m not a DC Law maker. But this would seem to be rather simple.

Domestic violence is normally considered in most jurisdictions as, violence perpetrated upon one family member or domestic partner, with whom the violator is, or has been, involved in a sexual relationship.

It is therefore quite possibly the intention of the DC Law, to include violence by any family member, committed against any other family member, with whom no sexual relationship exists, as “intrafamily offense”.
Thus the violence is within the family (intrafamily)… but not by/upon a sexual partner.

As for disqualification;
Federal Law disqualifies any person who has been convicted of domestic violence, from ever even possessing a firearm.

Federal Domestic Violence Firearms Prohibitions Continue To Withstand Constitutional Scrutiny | Office of Justice Programs

www.ojp.gov

1994 Gun Control Act amendments prohibit the possession of a firearm by those subject to domestic violence restraining orders and by domestic violence misdemeanants under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(8) and (9).