Legislature moves to better protect Iowa families from domestic violence

The Legislature’s recent bipartisan passage of Senate File 2357 is a victory for all victims of domestic violence. 

Since January 1995, 111 Iowans have been killed with guns in domestic abuse murders. Fifty-four percent of women killed by an intimate partner were shot; 50 percent of men killed by an intimate partner were shot; and 57 percent of children and bystanders killed in domestic violence attacks were shot.

According to the Iowa Attorney General, research shows that taking guns out of the hands of abusers will save lives and prevent victims of abuse from being terrorized.

Senate File 2357 aims to do just that by prohibiting a person subject to a civil domestic abuse protective order or who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm. The state law mirrors existing federal law.

No one can be disqualified from possessing a firearm until they have first had notice of a hearing and the opportunity to be heard. A temporary order prohibiting the possession of firearms may not be issued.