Take precautions beyond restraining order

QI obtained a one-year 209A order against my husband, who is charged with assault and battery against me. He was ordered to stay out of our house, have no contact with me, stay 100 yards away from me and to turn in all his guns to the police. Last week, he confronted me in a supermarket. I ran away and called the police. He was arrested, and his bail on the other charges was revoked.

His guns are still locked in racks in our home. What can I do about that? Can I divorce him?

AViolation of a 209A order is a criminal offense. Even though his bail was revoked, it could be — without you being notified — that he could again get out on bail.

I believe his failure to turn his guns over to the police is another criminal offense. So invite the police into your home to remove the guns. Because you gave them permission to enter, your husband’s rights to due process have not been violated. However, to be belt-and-suspenders, the police might ask the district court judge to issue a search warrant for the guns.

To protect yourself, you need to install double cylinder deadbolt locks on every door to your house, including the basement and second floor doors. Tell the locksmith to set the locks so you only need one key. Then, at all times, keep that key in your possession so you’re the only one who can unlock the doors from either the outside or inside of your house.

Instruct the locksmith to install a thick metal “pin” into the top of the door frame that is opposite the side of the door that has the dead bolt. That pin should stick two or three inches out of the frame so that when the door closes those pins go into a hole that is drilled into the door. That secures both sides of the door and makes it harder for someone to kick in the door. You need to have installed high-quality locks on every window, and put iron bars inside of each basement window.

Also build a “safe room” into your home, perhaps taking the place of a closet. That room should have an air vent and a steel or other lining that will stop bullets from getting in. Keep some water, dried food, a chemical toilet, tissues, flashlight and batteries and an extra cellphone inside that room. Be sure that phone is always charged. That way, if you hear someone trying to break into your house, you run to and lock yourself into the safe room. And then call the police.

And, of course you can get a divorce from your husband.

Sadly, your marriage fits English writer, Gilbert K. Chesterton’s claim that a “marriage is an adventure, like going to war!”

Gerald L. Nissenbaum has been a trial lawyer in Boston since 1967 and concentrates his practice on family law. Any legal advice in this column is general in nature, and does not establish a lawyer-client relationship. Send questions to dearjerry@bostonherald.com.