Illinois bill would require police to confiscate firearms in orders of protection cases

[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.

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.

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