TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Gun security advocates are pushing for brand new laws to assist defend victims of home violence victims in Kansas.
Latonya Boyd from Topeka misplaced her 21-year outdated daughter, Tyesha McNair, to gun violence in 2009. McNair was shot and killed by her accomplice. She left behind two younger daughters, a new child and one barely three years of age.
“There’s no celebration of birthdays, no Christmas presents from her. On holidays, we go to the cemetery, and we put issues on my daughter’s grave,” Boyd stated. “I consider in second modification rights, however I additionally consider in my daughter’s proper to reside too.”
Boyd and different gun security advocates testified in a Home Federal and State Affairs committee on Friday, urging lawmakers to move a proposal that will require home abusers at hand over firearms to legislation enforcement by courtroom order.
Federal law makes it unlawful for anybody convicted of a misdemeanor crime of home violence to ship, transport, possess, or obtain firearms or ammunition.
Beneath the present proposal, a courtroom would even be allowed to problem a “relinquishment order” below the issuance of a qualifying safety order, equivalent to a restraining order.
Consultant Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, stated issuing these protections is lengthy overdue.
“The invoice tells victims of home abuse that we see them,” Woodard instructed Kansas’ Capitol Bureau. “We all know that there are issues, and we wish to do the whole lot we are able to to maintain them protected.”
Nonetheless, legislation enforcement officers testified in opposition to the measure in the course of the listening to, pointing to a 2015 Supreme Court docket Determination in Henderson v. United States, which requires firearms to be turned over to a 3rd occasion, like a firearms vendor. Officers argued that legislation enforcement will not be allowed to carry firearms for an indefinite period of time.
“On this case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation needed to maintain the gun and this choice made it clear they might not. The firearm needed to be turned over to 2nd occasion to incorporate a federal firearms vendor.”
Sherriff Cole Presley, Kansas Sheriff’s Affiliation
Some lawmakers are additionally involved with the invoice infringing on second modification rights, however stated they’re hoping to succeed in a compromise after engaged on the proposal in committee.
“I used to be inspired to listen to that there was a possibility for various teams throughout a large divide to really proceed the dialog,” stated Consultant Patrick Penn, R-Wichita.
Opponents of the measure stated they’re additionally prepared to work on amendments to the invoice to help victims of home violence.
Watch the complete listening to, beneath:
