United States v. Minor

Explaining the dangerous relationship between firearm access and domestic violence.

Court: First Circuit

Issue at Stake: Firearm possession by domestic violence misdemeanants

Summary: Minor was convicted for possessing a firearm as a domestic violence misdemeanant in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9). He seeks in United States v. Minor to vacate his conviction.

Everytown for Gun Safety filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in support of the United States. Everytown’s brief explains the connection between domestic violence and gun violence, demonstrating how access to firearms increases the likelihood that domestic violence will turn deadly. The brief urges the court to take this relationship into account when interpreting Section 922(g)(9), which was intended to close a dangerous loophole in the federal prohibition on gun possession by domestic abusers.

Decision: On March 24, 2023, the First Circuit vacated Minor’s conviction on the grounds of jury instruction errors, and remanded for a new trial.

Case Documents