Pa. Senate OKs new domestic violence gun restrictions

After the state Senate passed a measure Wednesday requiring domestic abusers to relinquish their firearms, Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to sign the legislation into law when it passes his desk.

Both state Sens. Tom Killion, R-9 of Middletown and Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, voted for the measure that passed the chamber by a vote of 43-5 Wednesday. Part of Killion’s Senate Bill 501 and McGarrigle’s Senate Bill 502 were included in the measure.

“Victims of domestic abuse have been living in fear of gun violence for far too long,” Killion said. “This legislation will get guns out of the hands of abusers. It will protect women, children, men and the law enforcement community during dangerous domestic disputes. This bill will save lives.”

He said that 117 people were killed last year in Pennsylvania in domestic violence-related incidents, making it the highest number of domestic violence deaths in this state in the last decades. Of that 117, 78 died as a result of gun violence, according to the senator.

Killion had included language to have abusers relinquish their firearms within 24 hours of have a final Protection from Abuse Order filed against them. This legislation would require that the firearm be turned over to sheriffs, attorneys or licensed gun dealers rather than friends or family members. Current law allows 60 days for the surrender to occur.

The House passed the measure by a vote of 131-62 last week and the bill now moves to the governor’s desk.

“For years, victims and advocates have fought tirelessly for passage of this common sense and urgently needed reform,” Wolf said. “We know that too many families are being torn apart by domestic violence and too many domestic abusers use firearms to kill, injure and terrorize their victims. The reforms passed (Wednesday) are long overdue and will make important strides to protect victims and reduce violence.”

From McGarrigle’s SB 502 was included the language allowing victims of domestic violence to ask for an extension of a PFA if the abuser has been incarcerated within the past 90 days.

“The efforts to protect citizens from domestic violence is an ongoing one,” McGarrigle said. “It’s a process, and a sometimes imperfect one. When we can identify a way to reduce the potential for this violence, and do so within the parameters of the Constitution, I believe we should do so.”

With regards to the 24-hour firearms surrender, the senator said, “Requiring the timely and complete relinquishment of firearms for those subject to PFAs or convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence reduces the risk of violence for everyone involved. This bill is a positive step toward ... preventing incidents of domestic violence from escalating.”

Attempts to reach Kim Stolfer of Firearms Owners Against Crime were unsuccessful Wednesday. However, previously, he said he would’ve liked the surrender period to be 48 hours so as to avoid a wrong conviction and he would have liked friends to be allowed to hold the firearm.