On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in an 8-1 decision to keep in place a law allowing law enforcement to take away guns from anyone subject to a domestic violence restraining order.
Harbor House CEO Michelle Sperzel said the ruling will help protect people across the nation from the dangers of firearms in domestic abuse situations.
“It’s really because they want to say it is not OK for someone to abuse another person,” Sperzel said. “Law enforcement is going to have to figure out how they are going to enforce it and how they are going to get the guns out of the homes and how are they going to get the guns out the hands of the actual abusers.”
Leonia Thornton created the “For My Sister Foundation,” a non-profit aimed at helping other domestic violence victims in Central Florida. This came after the murder of her sister, Shakeira Rucker, in November 2023.
“It’s a sense of relief. I am not a victim myself. I’m a secondary victim,” Thornton said. “I can’t speak for everybody and their situation, but I know for my sister, she was done, and he couldn’t accept it.”
Shakeira Rucker was reported missing last November amid a turbulent separation with her husband, Corey Hill. Her body was later found in a storage unit rented in Hill’s name. He is currently awaiting trial for her murder.
Thornton is determined through her organization to offer a safe place for anyone at risk.
“I’m going to continue to advocate for women in her situation that are embarrassed,” Thornton said.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: