Illinois bill would require police to confiscate firearms in orders of
protection cases
Send a link to a friend
[October 13, 2023]
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Expect a push during fall veto session at the
Illinois Statehouse to make gun confiscations in cases with orders of
protection more strict.
During a news conference Thursday in Chicago, state Sen. Celina
Villanueva, D-Chicago, joined with gun control advocates and said too
many women are dying in domestic violence encounters.
“One research study of intimate partner homicide found that among
victims who had an order of protection, one-fifth of victims were killed
within two days of the order being issued,” she said. “About one-third
were killed within a month.”
She’s pushing for a bill to increase the domestic orders of protection
laws around firearm confiscation. One such measure, Karina’s Bill, is
named after victims of domestic violence.
“Karina’s Bill would require a firearm to be removed from a home when a
survivor is granted an order of protection with the firearm remedy from
a judge,” The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence said in a
statement. “Advocates hope to pass the bill during the Illinois General
Assembly’s fall veto session beginning in late October, which is also
Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”
Illinois State Rifle Association’s Ed Sullivan said there are already
laws on the books for such things and what’s being proposed goes too
far.
[to top of second column]
|
![](../images/101323PIX/news_c6.jpg)
Illinois state Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, during a news
conference. - Facebook / The Network - Advocating Against Domestic
Violence
“Government failed this women and a child,” Sullivan told The Center
Square. “Government failed and the advocates want to abuse this
situation and take away rights of law-abiding citizens.”
Sullivan expects litigation over what’s being proposed by gun
control groups – that there would be no hearing before firearms are
confiscated by police.
“It will further erode what I think should be some protections of
people under domestic orders or if you have a clear and present
danger,” Sullivan said of concerns over due process.
Villanueva said concerns around police storage, transfers and other
issues are still being worked out.
“We’re trying to figure out so that we actually have a very
impactful bill and law so once it gets signed, to make sure that
we’re doing everything that we can to protect people,” she said.
It’s possible legislators could bring up a proposed bill during the
six days of veto session. Legislators return Oct. 24.
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |