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Bill would give judges explicit authority to remove firearms in domestic-violence cases
Summary
SB 2339 would mirror federal law by letting judges order firearms removed after a domestic-violence conviction or protective-order hearing when a credible threat exists; sponsors said the bill protects victims and law enforcement and the committee advanced it by voice vote.
Sponsor S6 told the committee SB 2339 would give clear authority to judges to remove firearms from people convicted of domestic violence or when a judge finds a credible threat during a domestic-violence protection-order hearing.
S6 said federal law already bars firearm possession after domestic-violence convictions and that this bill mirrors federal standards and clarifies the state statute so judges are not reluctant to act. "If you're subject to a court order ... the judge can find there's a credible threat and can order that the firearms be taken up during the duration of the order," S6 said.
Committee members asked whether current law already allowed such removals and whether the bill applies to misdemeanors or only convictions; S6 explained the bill addresses both the criminal side (conviction) and the civil protective-order side (chancery), and described how hearings and findings would support removal orders. The committee moved the bill forward by voice vote.
