"Karina's Bill" supporters urge lawmakers to help protect domestic violence victims

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Groups fighting gun violence made a plea Wednesday morning for Illinois lawmakers to pass a bill that would require police to remove firearms from a home under specific orders of protection in domestic violence cases.

The bill is named in honor of Karina Gonzalez, who was shot and killed in July by her husband. He also killed Gonzalez's 15-year-old daughter, Daniela.

They were shot and killed in Little Village, even though Karina had an order of protection that could have led to the removal of his gun by law enforcement. 

"We should not need to have to stand here today to convince the people elected to serve us that it is time to protect women from domestic violence gun deaths,' said Yolanda Androzzo, executive director of the anti-gun-violence group One Aim Illinois.

Supporters of Karina's Bill said several recent shootings in Illinois show the need for firearms removal to be part of violence protection for domestic violence survivors when they get a court to issue an order of protection.

"I am committed to working with my colleagues to see Karina's Bill through the legislative process. Karina's Bill will clarify and add language to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act and Firearm Restraining Order Act to allow for firearm removal earlier in the process of domestic violence orders of protection," said Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons (7th), who supports HB 676, Karina's Bill.

In:
• Domestic Violence