New York Lawmakers to Reintroduce Bill to Help Domestic Violence Victims
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)—New York State lawmakers are looking at legislation they’d like to focus on when they return to Albany in January. Senator Pete Harckham plans on reintroducing a bill with Assemblymember Amy Paulin meant to help domestic violence victims.
Why the Bill is Needed
“Firearms and domestic violence are a really bad combination,” said Harckham.
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500%.
What the Bill Proposes
Senator Pete Harckham plans on reintroducing a bill that would amend the Safe Homes Act.
According to the senator, the current legislation says police may remove firearms in plain sight during domestic violence calls. His bill, however, would change the word may to shall.
How the Bill Would Work
Harckham makes it a point to note the firearms confiscated would be ones in plain sight. The guns would be temporarily held for five days, so a safety plan can be made for the victim.
“This is not a permanent seizure,” said Harckham. “This is not a violation of people’s second amendment rights. This is about public safety. This is about keeping victims safe, keeping people alive and giving the experts time to formulate a safety plan so the victim and the children can remain safe.”
Why the Bill Wasn’t Voted on Last Session
He explained why the bill wasn’t voted on last session.
“There was a Supreme Court case regarding a similar federal statute. So our councils were waiting to see the outcome of that. The courts ruled favorably in what would be our favor, so we now feel comfortable moving this forward without threat of a successful legal challenge.”
Conclusion
Senator Harckham is optimistic the bill will pass in the state legislature next year. The bill aims to keep victims of domestic violence safe by temporarily removing firearms from the scene and giving experts time to formulate a safety plan.
FAQs
Q: Why is the presence of a gun in domestic violence situations a concern?
A: According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500%.
Q: What would happen to the confiscated firearms?
A: The firearms would be temporarily held for five days, so a safety plan can be made for the victim. After the five-day period, the firearms would be returned to their rightful owner.
Q: Would this bill violate people’s second amendment rights?
A: No, Senator Harckham emphasizes that this bill is about public safety and keeping victims safe, not about violating people’s second amendment rights. The bill would only temporarily remove firearms from the scene, not permanently seize them.
