This bill strengthens federal firearm restrictions for domestic violence offenders by expanding who is covered and how courts enforce these restrictions. Currently, federal law only bars firearm possession for people subject to domestic violence restraining orders if they were married to, formerly married to, cohabited with, or share a child with the victim. The bill expands this to include dating partners and anyone protected under state or local domestic violence laws, and importantly, it applies to emergency or temporary protective orders, not just final ones. The bill also requires that when a domestic violence protective order is issued, individuals must surrender all firearms and ammunition within 24 hours to law enforcement or a licensed dealer, with law enforcement authorized to remove weapons if the person does not comply. Additionally, the bill establishes a federal grant program through the Office on Violence Against Women to help states, tribes, and local governments implement firearm removal policies and partner with domestic violence service providers. No specific funding amount is specified, though the bill authorizes appropriations as needed for the grant program.
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