Top headlines of the week

1. The Supreme Court refuses to accept blame for its worst guns decision
2. Tracking a Single Day at the National Domestic Violence Hotline
3. California reaches $15 million settlement with Snapchat over alleged sex discrimination

4. Biden’s Title IX law expanding protections for LGBTQ+ students is dealt another setback

    

The fight against domestic violence notched an important win last week.

In an 8-1 decision, the Supreme Court upheld a federal law that prevents people who have a domestic violence restraining order against them from owning guns. A majority of justices ultimately agreed that the plaintiff, a Texas man who terrorized the mother of his child and threatened to shoot her, should not have access to firearms.

We’re celebrating the immediate significance of the court’s ruling in United States v. Rahimi – that it will leave a life-saving legal protection in place – but court watchers say this is not an unqualified victory. The ruling does not undo the confusion created by SCOTUS’ 2022 case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al. v. Bruen, writes Vox’s Ian Millhiser. In Bruen, which is responsible for Rahimi making it all the way to the Supreme Court, a majority of justices ruled that for a modern gun law to pass muster, it must be “consistent with this Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation” – as in, have existed in some form before the 1900.

We know that allowing abusers access to firearms increases the chances that domestic survivors will die from their abuse. Staff with the National Domestic Violence Hotline say that hotline calls have coincided with profile court decisions – including the circuit court ruling in United States v. Rahimi – as callers seek answers around how the rulings will impact them, or report how they have already impacted their abuse.

Here are some other things to know: the parent company of Snapchat, the social media platform, has agreed to pay $15 million in a settlement following a multi-year investigation into alleged discrimination, retaliation and sexual harassment against women who work for the company. And President Biden’s efforts to expand Title IX protections to LGBTQ+ students has suffered more setbacks after a federal judge ruled to temporarily block the new U.S. Department of Education guidelines from taking effect in six additional states, days after a different federal judge blocked them from taking effect in Idaho, Louisiana, Montana and Mississippi.

Weekly nonprofit news

Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments 

SAVE is hosting a volunteer social event at Newark Library on Tuesday, July 9, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will be a chance to learn more about volunteer opportunities with SAVE to help them advance their vital work. 

Tri-Valley Haven

There’s still plenty of time to donate a pre-filled backpack for Tri-Valley Haven’s pre-filled backpack drive. The organization is accepting donations through July 19.

The actual Backpack Distribution Event will take place on July 30 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at 444 Black Avenue in Pleasanton. The organization will give out those pre-filled backpacks to children who live in Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore and Sunol.