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Bill to require firearm surrender to law enforcement after domestic‑violence convictions fails in committee
Summary
HB 9‑48 would have required people convicted of domestic violence or subject to protection orders to surrender firearms to law enforcement within 48 hours and file proof within three business days; legal counsel said current law already prohibits possession and requires an affidavit, and members voted the bill down (1–7).
Representative Brooks presented House Bill 9‑48 as a measure to tighten enforcement of existing dispossession requirements for people convicted of domestic violence or subject to an order of protection.
Brooks said the bill requires dispossession to law enforcement within 48 hours and filing proof to the court within three business days to "close the gap between court order and real safety." Representative Todd and others raised concerns that mandating surrender to law enforcement could create de facto registries or put law enforcement in the position of storing large numbers of firearms without adequate evidence‑room capacity.
Michelle Fogarty of Legal Services clarified that under current law someone convicted of the misdemeanor offense of domestic violence is a prohibited possessor and that the bill amends dispossession language to require surrender to a law‑enforcement agency rather than allowing "any lawful means." Fogarty said the existing process includes an affidavit of firearms dispossession that should be returned to the court within 48 hours.
After discussion about storage capacity, reporting and whether current forms were being used in practice, the subcommittee voted; the bill failed on a recorded tally of 1 aye and 7 noes.
