Committee advances bill to require record of firearm transfers by people under domestic abuser convictions or protective orders

The House Committee on Public Safety reported House Bill 1960 to the House after a patron described the measure as a way to ensure compliance with existing prohibitions on firearm possession for those convicted of domestic abuse or subject to final protective orders.

"House Bill 1960 would keep illegal guns out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers and save lives and the bill does not affect law abiding citizens," Delegate Delia Bennett Parker said. She explained the bill requires those already legally required to relinquish firearms to complete a form identifying who is in possession of their firearms. Under current law, she said, the transfer may be made to a transferee, a federally licensed firearms dealer, or a law-enforcement agency, but no mechanism ensures the transfer actually occurs.

Committee members questioned whether a form already existed and what additional information the bill would require. Committee counsel confirmed the bill would add the name and address of the person receiving the firearm to the public record filed with the court clerk.

The committee voted 12 in favor and 9 opposed to report the bill to the House. Delegate Bennett Parker argued the measure would aid law enforcement in enforcing existing prohibitions and reduce risk in domestic-violence situations.