( CNN ) -- This month , just outside of Houston , a man police say had a history of abusing and threatening women got his hands on a gun and executed six members of his ex-wife 's family -- including four children . On that day , local law enforcement officials believe he was on his way to hunt down other family members when , thankfully , they ended his rampage . In our country , it 's a sadly common story : An abuser or stalker gains access to guns and destroys the lives of women and families in our communities . That 's why it is time for Congress to address this lethal mix of domestic violence and guns . Our leaders must pass laws that prevent stalkers and abusers from accessing guns to intimidate , hurt or kill women . Domestic violence : The next front in gun control fight . The numbers should shock you : Women in America are 11 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than women in other democratic countries with developed economies . In domestic abuse situations , if the abuser has access to a gun , it increases the chance that a woman will die by 500 % . Most of the time , women are murdered with guns by someone they know , either by a family member or an intimate partner , such as a former or current husband or boyfriend . Between 2001 and 2012 , more women were shot to death by an intimate partner in our country than the total number of American troops killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined . That is a national shame . Fortunately , the momentum is on our side . On Wednesday , the Senate will hold its first-ever hearing on domestic violence homicides and the use of gun violence against America 's women . Many of our elected leaders are calling for new protections for those who are subject to abuse . States are already taking bipartisan action . And Americans support these laws by staggering margins . Keeping weapons from mentally ill proves elusive . Currently , federal law prevents people who are under domestic violence protection orders or have misdemeanor domestic violence convictions from accessing guns . But even though increasing numbers of couples are choosing to marry later in life , the law has n't been extended to address dating partner abuse . And convicted stalkers can still get guns . Common sense says that these dangerous loopholes should be closed now . Congress has the power to do it . Those who argue that stalkers do n't necessarily exhibit violent or threatening behavior have n't been on the other side of a conversation with a woman who fears for her life because her former boyfriend or acquaintance is promising to find her and kill her . The reality is three out of four women killed by their intimate partner were stalked before their death . We must continue to educate those who do n't understand why we need these protections for abused women . Democrats and Republicans in state legislatures around the country recognize the problem and have come together to pass laws that better protect women from gun violence . This year alone , leaders in six states -- Louisiana , Maryland , Minnesota , New Hampshire , Washington and Wisconsin -- have enacted legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support that will help protect abused women from gun violence . Faced with laws that do n't do enough to keep guns away from domestic abusers and stalkers , Democrats and Republicans chose common-sense change over the status quo . Opinion : I 'm a gun owner and I want gun control . Our leaders in Washington should follow their example and back legislation that prohibits stalkers and dating abusers from having guns . Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , a former prosecutor , has a bill that would do just that . It is the responsible thing to do . Keeping guns out of the hands of abusers and stalkers will take more than a Senate hearing and carefully worded statements that say all the right things . It will require our leaders to show some courage and stand up for common-sense laws . It will require some hard work . And it will require overcoming the power of those in Washington who continue to fight against these laws . But we urgently need stronger gun laws that protect women . We ca n't wait any longer . Women 's lives are at stake . Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion .
Gabrielle Giffords , Katie Ray-Jones : Congress must address domestic violence and guns . In domestic abuse situations , women five times more likely to die if abuser has access to gun . Comment: