New Effort Underway To Take Guns Away From Domestic Violence Offenders
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Police Department and city officials Wednesday announced a new domestic violence/firearms policy aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports under the policy, the LAPD will notify the City Attorney's Office whenever any suspect in a domestic violence case owns a firearm.
City Attorney Announces New Domestic Violence, Firearms Policy
City Attorney Mike Feuer said his office will work to prosecute cases where domestic violence perpetrators or someone with a restraining order is caught trying to buy a gun.
He said nine women die in the United States every week as a result of domestic violence situations.
"Guns and domestic violence are a lethal combination," Feuer said. "Our office is taking aggressive action to enforce the laws already on the books and work with our community partners to inform the public of how the laws can help protect them and their families."
The City Attorney's Office and the LAPD's new protocol will help identify all domestic violence defendants who own firearms so that appropriate gun laws can be enforced.
"These enhanced protocols are the result of the Department and City Attorney's collaborative commitment to ensure every safeguard is afforded to victims of Domestic Violence," LAPD Assist. Chief Michel Moore said.
The current law requires any person who is served with a domestic violence restraining order or criminal protective order to surrender or lawfully sell any registered firearms within 24 hours.
The new public awareness campaign launched in collaboration with Women Against Gun Violence and the Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles, which helps educate the public on the laws pertaining to domestic violence and guns, includes a brochure with important information related to domestic and gun violence.
"Abused women are five times more likely to be killed by their abuser if the abuser owns a firearm," Exec. Director of Women Against Gun Violence, Margot Bennett said. "Women Against Gun Violence applauds the City Attorney's efforts to remove firearms from the homes of domestic abusers and looks forward to a long partnership to prevent gun violence in homes and on our streets."
