Communities Blaze New Trails to Prevent Firearm-Involved Domestic Violence

Across the country numerous communities are effectively disarming domestic violence offenders by implementing and enforcing firearm prohibitions in domestic violence cases. Leaders and innovators in these communities have developed pragmatic and responsible policies, protocols and practices directed at all aspects of firearm surrender and seizure.

Dallas County, Texas

Dallas County, Texas, is known for being one of the most populated counties in Texas and a statewide leader on combating domestic violence.

However, the county lagged behind in its efforts to confiscate firearms from domestic violence offenders. Developing a comprehensive solution to a problem that put domestic violence victims and the…

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State of Wisconsin

Wisconsin had legislated firearm prohibitions similar to the federal law, however, enforcement of the prohibitions remained challenging.

In 2009, a subcommittee of the Governor’s Council on Domestic Violence completed a model firearm surrender protocol to improve compliance with firearm surrender laws. In 2010, the protocol was piloted…

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Baltimore, Maryland

In 2009, Maryland enacted a law requiring a judge to order firearms confiscated from people who have final protective orders filed against them.

Judges also had discretion to order firearm confiscation on temporary protective orders. Despite tough laws, enforcement was difficult in Baltimore where temporary protective orders were only being…

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El Paso, TX

In 2005, community members in El Paso formed the Domestic Violence Surrender Advisory Committee.

A unique and diverse group of law enforcement, legal practitioners, college staff, and officers from a local military installation collaborated to produce a guide that specified firearm removal…

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Lafourche Parish, LA

Lafourche Parish, located at the southern end of Louisiana, has about 100,000 residents, a robust agricultural and oil economy, and a reputation for a strong stance against domestic violence.

The social services division of the Sheriff’s Office in Lafourche, led by Lt. Valerie Martinez-Jordan, has been taking formal steps to keep firearms out of the hands of prohibited possessors since…

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New Mexico

Despite the sparse population, New Mexico ranked 2nd in 2019 for the number of females killed by male offenders per 100,000 residents.

On July 1, 2019, a new law went into effect in New Mexico prohibiting the purchase or possession of firearms by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence or subject to final…

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Pueblo, CO

In Pueblo, Colorado, Judge Victor Reyes of the 10th Judicial District* realized that the current process of firearm removal needed an update.

Despite judges’ being authorized to use the catchall provision in Colorado’s protection order statute to order surrender of firearms, there were several impediments to successfully removing firearms…

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State of Washington

Since 2014, Washington state law has required individuals served with domestic violence protection orders to give their weapons to police; however, most were not obeying these court orders.

Since 2014, Washington state law has required individuals served with domestic violence protection orders to give their weapons to police; however, most were not obeying these court orders. In 2016…

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Maine

Maine Cooks Up Improvements to Firearm Relinquishment

A pinch of serendipity, several cups of collaboration, and a dash of ingenuity were the ingredients that cooked up significant system change and improved safety for domestic violence victims in Maine.…

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Harris County, Texas

Houston, Texas is safer, thanks in part to the Safe Surrender program.

Harris County State District Judge Judy Warne was a driving force behind firearm surrender.

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Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky is a community that understands that time is often critical in keeping domestic violence victims safe.

Two initiatives launched by the Fayette County Sheriff and Fayette County Circuit Court, electronic Emergency Protective Orders (e-EPO) and domestic violence order hope cards, aim to save lives when…

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San Mateo, CA

California leads the nation with some of the strictest laws on guns.

Since 2004, anyone served with a temporary protective order is given only 24 hours to turn over any weapons to local law enforcement or sell them to a licensed gun dealer. Even with some of the…

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Atlanta, Georgia

DeKalb County criminal justice partners set out to save lives with a firearm reduction initiative.

Though initially met with reluctance, committed individuals stayed the course until they created an effective protocol for removing guns from the hands of domestic violence offenders.

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