Following on from Monday's striking down of a long-held anti-abortion law, there has been another controversial ruling made by the Supreme Court of the United States this week.

Two men appealed that previous convictions of domestic abuse and violating federal laws should not mean they be disqualified from gun ownership.

As per the Wall Street Journal, one of the men was arrested and convicted in 2003 for slapping his girlfriend, and then six years later, an anonymous tip regarding him shooting a bald eagle led to another arrest and conviction.

The second of the two men pled guilty to assaulting his girlfriend in 2002, and eight years later, his home was searched by police, who discovered six firearms and their accompanying ammunition.

Both men argued that their crimes were committed during an argument, and not committed with pure intent, which should mean that the gun ban not be applied to them.

Similarly, gun rights groups have argued that the men should not lose their constitutional right to bear arms because of misdemeanor abuse convictions.

However, according to CBS News, the Supreme Court outright rejected their argument, upholding the federal law in a 6-2 vote, and it marks itself as a major decision in relation to violence against women, as well as general gun control in America.