The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance Applauds Policy Leaders for Strengthening Survivor Safety Across Commonwealth

With New Laws, Virginia Joins the Majority of States in Keeping Firearms Away from Domestic Abusers

Richmond, VA, June 16, 2026—Gov. Abigail Spanberger today made Virginia a safer place for survivors of sexual and domestic violence by signing SB 38 (Favola), HB 93 (Bennett-Parker), SB 160 (Perry), and HB 19 (McClure) into law. These bills close deadly loopholes in Virginia’s firearms laws and ensure that courts, law enforcement, and community partners have the tools they need to enforce the Commonwealth’s laws and protect survivors from escalating gun violence. The new laws, effective July 1, bring Virginia into step with the national momentum to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers.

  “These bills will save lives across the Commonwealth,” said Action Alliance Executive Director Kristi VanAudenhove. “We applaud Governor Spanberger for signing them into law as well as the champions of these bills: Senator Barbara Favloa (Senate District 40), Senator Elizabeth Bennett Parker (Senate District 39), Senator Russet Perry (Senate District 31) and Delegate Adele McClure (House District 2) for their unwavering support and dynamic leadership as they connect the real needs of survivors in communities to the work of Virginia’s General Assembly. Their actions send a clear message: Virginia stands with survivors.”

“Virginia has long been overdue in closing these loopholes that put survivors at greater risk of lethal violence. Most states across the country have recognized that keeping firearms away from abusers and dating partners is a matter of life and death,” said Action Alliance Policy Director Courtenay Schwartz. “These bills, drafted and championed by survivors, community-based advocates, and systems partners, will give communities the tools they need to robustly implement laws designed to prevent domestic violence homicides. We are grateful that Governor Spanberger and the General Assembly have finally brought Virginia in line with what many other states already know: survivors deserve to be safe.”

Doorways and Virginia lawmakers and advocates discuss domestic violence, guns, and lethal legal loopholes (April 2024)

Strengthening Firearm Transfer Laws in Cases of Domestic Abuse

SB 38 (Favola) and HB 93 (Bennett-Parker) close fatal loopholes in Virginia’s firearm transfer laws. Under current law, those convicted of assaulting a family or household member, as well as those issued a final protective order, were prohibited from owning a firearm but could hand them over to a household member or a third party without providing any information to courts or law enforcement on the transferee’s eligibility to own a firearm. Courts and law enforcement had no way to confirm that safe and lawful firearm transfers occurred. These bills correct that flaw in the system.

The new law, effective July 1, prohibits firearm transfers to household members and will require prohibited individuals to provide the court with information on the transferee. Virginia now joins nearly two-thirds of states that have chosen to close this deadly loophole.

“Survivors continually told us their abusers still had access to deadly firearms even after being legally prohibited from owning them. Judges and law enforcement echoed that sentiment: The law as written gave them no way to enforce firearm prohibitions,” said Action Alliance Policy Director Courtenay Scwartz. “In cases where the threat of escalating violence was particularly high, this loophole left victims without safety, undermined the court’s authority and significantly impeded law enforcement’s ability to implement and uphold the law.”

Closing the Boyfriend Loophole

SB 160 (Perry) and HB 19 (McClure) close the “boyfriend loophole,” which allowed those who abuse a dating or intimate partner to continue to possess their firearms. Under current law, an individual convicted of assault and battery against a family or household member is prohibited from possessing firearms. However, no such protection exists for survivors who are not married and not cohabitating with their intimate partner. Federal law and nearly half of the states in the U.S. have eliminated the boyfriend loophole, and with Governor Spanberger’s signing on June 16th, Virginia joins the growing number of states that prioritize victim safety regardless of marital status.

“Relationships today look different than they once did, and our laws didn’t reflect that reality, leaving many survivors at greater risk of harm,” said Diana Ortiz, M.Ed., LPC, President and CEO of Doorways, Arlington’s sole provider of safehousing (emergency shelter), services, and supportive housing for survivors. “It is essential that our policies evolve with our community to keep all survivors safe and hold perpetrators accountable.”

The Overlap Between Sexual and Domestic Violence and Guns

The passage of these bills is the culmination of a multi-year effort that brought together partners in Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy, Gun Violence Prevention, Law Enforcement, Courts, Prosecution and Legal Aid to safeguard survivors from deadly harm.

Guns and domestic violence are a lethal combination. The presence of a firearm makes it five times more likely that a victim is going to die at the hands of their abuser. And in Virginia, nearly two-thirds (65.5%) of all intimate partner violence homicide victims are killed with a firearm, with 83% of these homicides occurring in the home.(1) Protective orders restricting firearm access are associated with a 12% reduction in intimate partner homicide, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. The evidence is clear: removing guns from the equation in this dangerous environment saves lives. And with these new laws going into effect, even more lives will be saved.

According to a recent study, 59% of mass shootings between 2014 and 2019 were domestic violence-related, and in 68.2% of mass shootings, the perpetrator either killed at least one partner or family member or had a history of domestic violence. The study also notes that domestic violence-related mass shootings have a higher average case fatality rate (83.7%) than non-domestic violence-related mass shootings (63.1%).(2)

Abusers also use guns to threaten and intimidate their partners, essentially turning the firearm into a tool to exert their control and dominance over their victims. And according to Vadata, which tracks the realities of sexual and domestic violence across Virginia and the work being done to end it, gun violence against survivors is on the upswing. From January through May 2026, 1,921 domestic violence survivors and 241 sexual assault survivors reported that their abuser used or threatened to use a firearm against them. Compared to the same period in 2025, that represents a 7.8% increase for domestic violence survivors and a 34% increase for sexual assault. Everytown for Gun Safety notes that an estimated 13.6% of American women have been threatened by an intimate partner with a firearm, and 43% of these have been physically injured with a firearm (shot, pistol whipped, sexually assaulted, etc.).(3)

“Doorways is serving more survivors every year who are facing higher risk of lethal abuse, often involving firearms,” Ortiz said. “The legislation Governor Spanberger is signing into law today is lifesaving, reducing risk factors and protecting survivors and their families.”

“One crucial way to ensure safety in our homes and in our communities is to enforce and implement Virginia’s firearms and protective order laws, including the legislation signed into law today,” said VanAudenhove. “The Action Alliance remains committed to working alongside judges, law enforcement, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, advocates and systems partners to support implementation of the law.”

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ABOUT VIRGINIA SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTION ALLIANCE:

The Action Alliance is Virginia’s leading voice on sexual and domestic violence. As a network of survivors, sexual and domestic violence agencies, and allies, we work to strengthen Virginia’s response to and prevention of sexual and domestic violence. We believe ALL people have the right to a life free of sexual and domestic violence. We strive to promote healthy relationships, create thriving communities, and build a more equitable world by centering racial justice, reproductive justice and economic justice. For more information, visit https://www.vsdvaa.org

ABOUT DOORWAYS:

Since 1978, Doorways has provided Arlington’s only emergency shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence. Today, Doorways’ dual state-accredited response to domestic and sexual violence includes community-based, shelter, and housing programs, as well as youth-driven prevention programming which empowers young people to stop abuse before it starts. For more information, visit https://www.doorwaysva.org

VIRGINIA STATEWIDE SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE

Free. Confidential. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. 365 days a year.
Call: 800.838.8238 | Text: 804.793.9999 | Chat: www.vadata.org//chat/

1: 2018 Family and Intimate Partner Homicide Report, Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
2: Geller, L.B., Booty, M. & Crifasi, C.K. The role of domestic violence in fatal mass shootings in the United States, 2014 Inj. Epidemiol. 8, 38 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-021-00330-0
3: Adhia, A., Lyons, V. H., Moe, C. A., Rowhani-Rahbar, A., & Rivara, F. P. (2021). Nonfatal use of firearms in intimate partner violence: Result of a national survey. Preventive Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106500

“We’re worried about the fallout in the months to come,” she says. “If you asked any nonprofit right now, they would tell you that they feel like resources are contracting at the precise moment that the need for the services they provide is expanding.” Learn why in the November/December 2025 issue of Arlington Magazine.

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Spur Local

Spur Local (formerly the Catalogue for Philanthropy) announce the 143 nonprofits in our 2025 class, our 23rd class of local nonprofits!

This year, Spur Local received a record number of nonprofit applications to join our network. The 143 organizations in our 2025 class were chosen for their critical local impact by some 150 volunteers who live and work in the region, many of whom know these nonprofits as their neighbors. After our volunteer community advocates read their applications, the Spur Local team conducted financial reviews and site visits.

The work they do matters now and for our long-term futures. Their stories are powerful and show a vision for our region that is only possible when our communities come together. Read more.

Written by Shirley Ruhe, The Arlington Connection, May 7-20, 2025 Edition

The following is an excerpt from Groomers Doing Good Deeds: Building a Community, Not Just a Career by Jennifer Bishop Jenkins in the November 2024 issue of Groomer to Groomer magazine.

In May 2009, Doorways became the first safe house in Virginia, and one of only nine in the country at that time to provide emergency shelter for survivors’ pets. Thankfully, more are opening now, as the importance of this expanded role of shelters has become apparent.

Linley Beckbridge explained the importance of allowing the victims to bring their pets: “Often, people who perpetrate intimate partner violence will threaten or harm pets to maintain power and control over their partners. Victims may stay in abusive situations in an attempt to keep their animals safe. Providing emergency shelter for pets, along with survivors, is critical to the safety of both the animals and their people. No one should have to choose between their safety and their pets.

“The grooming industry can support their local shelters,” she continued, “most of which are nonprofit organizations, by donating their services—either directly for survivors’ pets or in the form of gift certificates for nonprofit auctions and other fundraisers—by doing third-party fundraisers to encourage their customers and community to give, and by raising awareness of local resources by posting flyers in their spaces. To support national efforts, check out the Purple Leash Project.”

A federal fund for organizations that help survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault is nearly depleted.

By Ellie Silverman | September 17, 2024

Organizations that support survivors of domestic violence and child abuse across the country are paring back resources — or preparing to shut down shelters — due to a dramatic drop in federal funds.

For fiscal year 2024, Congress set a funding cap of $1.35 billion — about $600 million less than last year for the Crime Victims Fund, as its reserve dwindled. Advocates fear that without a funding fix they may stare down an even bigger hole next year.

A cut of this magnitude will have a “catastrophic” impact on survivors, said Teresa Huizar, CEO of the D.C.-based National Children’s Alliance, a network of nearly 1,000 advocacy centers.

The need for programs such as domestic violence hotlines, rape crisis centers and legal assistance, has only grown, advocates say.

The fund — which is administered by the Department of Justice — supports more than 6 million survivors of crime, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

In the D.C. region, this year’s cut has translated into a decrease of $200,000 — or 11 percent — for Doorways, Arlington’s sole provider of crisis services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Leaders say that means one less advocate to go to court with survivors; one less community advocate to help with safety planning and connecting survivors to resources; two less case managers for shelter and housing programs.

One mother interviewed by The Washington Post said Doorways’ services helped her come to terms with the abuse she endured and find the courage to leave.

“I couldn’t see any light,” said the woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was concerned for her safety. “Doorways brought me hope.”

Doorways manages six apartments in northern Virginia to house survivors leaving abusive relationships, but may have to close those sites because of funding cuts, leaders said.

Continue Reading in The Washington Post

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