Introduction Individuals who have survived domestic violence often find themselves in perilous situations, even with legal measures like restraining orders in effect. The experiences of Kate Ranta and Angela Gabriel shed light on the threats that survivors encounter and the vital function of restraining orders, particularly when guns are involved. As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to make a decision on U.S. v. Rahimi, which may loosen gun laws for offenders, their narratives highlight the pressing need for enhanced protective measures. Kate Ranta’s Experience: A Temporary Restraining Order Was Insufficient While going through a divorce from her abusive spouse, U.S. Air Force Major Thomas Maffei, Kate Ranta faced a terrifying moment on November 2, 2012, when he arrived at her home. Her young son, William, witnessed his father brandishing a gun and pleading, “Don’t do it, daddy. Don’t shoot mommy!” Maffei shot Ranta twice—once in the chest and once in the hand—before being apprehended and later found guilty of attempted first-degree murder. He is currently serving a 60-year prison sentence. The Impact of Restraining Orders in Her Situation Ranta had a temporary restraining order against Maffei for eight months but found it challenging to secure a permanent one. Although the police took away his firearms, she continued to feel unsafe. After a brief reconciliation, she allowed the restraining order to lapse—a choice that nearly led to her death. “Nobody was coming in to save us. We were just in there,” Ranta recounted, reflecting on how she and her father were shot while trying to barricade the door. Angela Gabriel’s Experience: “I Never Thought He Would Shoot Me” Angela Gabriel, a mother of four from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, endured an even more harrowing assault. On February 22, 2017, her ex-partner, Carl Thompson, left their 1-year-old son (who has autism and Down syndrome) unattended before shooting Gabriel nine times while she was in the bathtub.
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