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jpak

(41,758 posts) Sun Feb 7, 2016, 03:54 PM Feb 2016

Utah joins push to keep guns from domestic abusers

Source: NJ Herald

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah legislators quietly changed a state law last year to keep in an attempt to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous domestic abusers, following a nationwide trend of state legislative action on a rare area of consensus in the polarized debate over guns.

The measure prohibits anyone convicted of domestic violence assault after May 1, 2015, from having a firearm. It covers both misdemeanor and felony assaults.

It was sponsored by Rep. Eric Hutchings and Sen. Daniel Thatcher with the backing of the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. It passed both the House and Senate unanimously, garnering hardly any attention.

It marked a positive step forward in addressing domestic violence, but a formal system to ensure these people actually give up their firearms has not yet been implemented, said Jenn Oxborrow, executive director of the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition.

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Read more: http://www.njherald.com/article/20160206/AP/302069847#

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Utah joins push to keep guns from domestic abusers (Original Post) jpak Feb 2016 OP

No brainer! pocoloco Feb 2016 #1

pocoloco

(3,180 posts)

1. No brainer!

Reply to jpak (Original post)

Sun Feb 7, 2016, 05:05 PM

Feb 2016

Common sense for a nation with 960,000 cases of domestic abuse a year, where 25%
of the population has been subject to domestic abuse during their life, and averages 1100
deaths a year from abusers. An added toll that sometimes includes adding members of the victim's
family.

There are inherent dangers with obtaining a protective order though. Gavin de Becker
cautions that obtaining a protective order sometimes is enough to trigger the violence.
This is now recognized by several states as a big enough risk that along with the
protective order, a method to speed up the process of obtaining a license for
concealed carry for self defense.

It is unacceptable most of the conversations are about the weapons used, and
few about how to address violence itself along with associated mental health issues.
If rage has escalated to the point that the only solution is murder, a weapon is
certain to be found.

In the meantime an adequate number Safe Houses should be a priority.

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