Proposed bill would aid victims of domestic violence

WEST CHESTER » Five years ago, Hollie Ayers’ estranged husband shot and killed her 2-year-old son and then himself. Hollie Ayers had a Protection from Abuse order. Seven years ago, Tina Souders’ ex-boyfriend shot and killed her, and then himself. Tina Souders had a final Protection from Abuse order. Ten years ago, Deborah Raimondi’s estranged husband shot and killed her and then himself, and the couple’s three young children witnessed the shootings. Deborah Raimondi had a final Protection from Abuse order.

And earlier this month, a West Goshen man murdered his wife and turned the gun on himself, only to have his twin 10-year-old children find their parents dead on the living room floor.

Current Pennsylvania law does not require abusers under final orders to turn in their guns. It only allows a court to require guns to be turned in, and permits surrender of the weapons to friends or family. As a result, many abusers return from court to their homes, and back to the guns they already own.

But that could end under a proposed law cosponsored by Rep. Tom Killion (R-9th Dist.) of Delaware County. Senate Bill 501 would

strengthen existing surrender policy of convicted abusers to require surrender of guns within 24 hours upon conviction of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Current law stipulates guns to be relinquished within 60 days, and does not create a clear process for holding those under final PFA orders accountable if they do not.

“The intent of this change in law is to enhance safety for parties and their children in domestic violence and PFA situations,” Killion said. “Enhancing their safety during these difficult times helps not only these families, but also law enforcement charged with overall public safety.”

Under the proposed bill, those under orders from a final PFA must relinquish firearms, weapons and ammunition immediately, and only to the county sheriff or other law enforcement agency, or to a federal firearms licensed dealer. No longer would a person under orders from a final FPA be able to transfer firearms to a relative.

According to a report by the FBI in 2012, half of women shot to death in Pennsylvania are killed by intimate partners. The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that a woman will be killed, the report concluded.

“These kinds of situations get very emotional,” said Amilia Reyburn, director of education programs at Domestic Violence Center of Chester County. “National statistics show that one out of every three women and one of every four men will experience some sort of physical violence an intimate relationship.

Last year, more than 3,500 people in sought help from the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County. Reyburn said the numbers have been increasing every year for the past several years.

“We try to do whatever we can to protect the victims,” she said. “This is all about power and control. People tell (their intimate partners) that if you leave me, I’ll take the kids, or the police will never believe you.”

Reyburn said the proposed legislation will go a long way to protecting victims of domestic violence.

“The PFA is a piece of paper,” she said. “If you hold it up, it won’t stop a bullet.”

According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, only 14 percent of final protection from abuse orders issued in the state from 2011 to 2015 required firearms to be turned in and that 82 percent of likely voters in the state support a ban on firearms to anyone convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Earlier this year, Gov. Tom Wolf called on the General Assembly to pass Senate Bill 501.

“We must protect victims – spouses and children – of domestic violence and attempt to prevent domestic abusers from escalating their violence in everyday places that result in mass murder,” Wolf said. “It is time for the General Assembly to act on this bipartisan, commonsense legislation to protect victims and reduce violence.”