Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act of 2019

To protect victims of stalking from gun violence. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act of 2019 2. Addition of dating partners and individuals subject to restraining orders (a) Definition Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (32) and inserting the following: (32) The term intimate partner (A) means with respect to a person, the spouse of the person, a former spouse of the person, an individual who is a parent of a child of the person, and an individual who cohabitates or has cohabited with the person; and (B) includes— (i) a dating partner (as defined in section 2266); and (ii) any other person similarly situated to a spouse. ; (2) in paragraph (33)(A)— (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the term The term (B) in clause (i), by inserting municipal, State, (C) in clause (ii)— (i) by inserting dating partner (as defined in section 2266), former spouse, (ii) by inserting dating partner (as defined in section 2266), a spouse, (3) by redesignating paragraphs (34) and (35) as paragraphs (35) and (36), respectively; and (4) by inserting after paragraph (33) the following: (34) (A) The term misdemeanor crime of stalking (B) (i) A person shall not be considered to have been convicted of such an offense for purposes of this chapter, unless— (I) the person was represented by counsel in the case, or knowingly and intelligently waived the right to counsel in the case; and (II) in the case of a prosecution for an offense described in this paragraph for which a person was entitled to a jury trial in the jurisdiction in which the case was tried, either— (aa) the case was tried by a jury, or (bb) the person knowingly and intelligently waived the right to have the case tried by a jury, by guilty plea or otherwise. (ii) A person shall not be considered to have been convicted of such an offense for purposes of this chapter if the conviction has been expunged or set aside, or is an offense for which the person has been pardoned or has had civil rights restored (if the law of the applicable jurisdiction provides for the loss of civil rights under such an offense) unless the pardon, expungement, or restoration of civil rights expressly provides that the person may not ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms. . (b) Addition of stalking Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (8)(ii), by striking or (B) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (C) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following: (10) has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of stalking. ; and (2) in subsection (g)— (A) in paragraph (8)(C)(ii), by striking or (B) in paragraph (9), by striking the comma at the end and inserting ; or (C) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following: (10) has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of stalking, .

Summary: Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act of 2019 This bill expands the categories of persons who are prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm or ammunition. Specifically, it prohibits firearm sale or transfer to and receipt, possession, shipment, or transport by a person who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of stalking.