Fargo Police Chief: Domestic Violence Offenders Shouldn’t Have Guns
Fargo Police Chief David Todd in a video for the New York Times says that he is a proponent of the second amendment, but with a red line.
In a video for the New York Times, Fargo's Police Chief said, "even as a strong supporter of the second amendment, I have a red line."
Todd cited an incident in Fargo in 2016 in which one of his officers, Jason Moszer, was killed in the line of duty when responding to a domestic dispute call.
"Nearly a quarter of all police deaths by firearms in America, come when we respond to domestic violence calls," Todd says in the video. "Statistically, these are the most deadly calls police get, and that trend is rising."
Marcus Shumacher, who committed the murder was a convicted felon with a history of domestic violence. According to Todd, Schumacher was, "legally able to own a gun because 10 years had passed since his release from prison."
"It does not have to be this way," Todd said.
The video mentions that federal law already prohibits offenders of domestic violence from owning guns albeit with one loophole.
"Federal law prohibits convicted abusers from owning guns if they're married," Todd says in the video.
However, that means the law does not apply to those who are not married. If someone has a history of violence against his girlfriend, that individual is still allowed to own a gun since the couple are not married.
In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo is trying to push through legislation that would not allow those with a history of domestic violence to own a gun.
It's not known if legislators in North Dakota have plans to close similar loopholes.
Check out the video David Todd did with the NY Times below:
[NY Times]