For Immediate Release
April 16, 2024
Media Contact
Maura Possley
[email protected]
Statement from G-PAC’s President and CEO Kathleen Sances on Karina’s Bill
SPRINGFIELD — The Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC) Illinois today released the following statement from President and CEO Kathleen Sances, who joined the many advocate groups at the Capitol today urging state lawmakers to pass Karina’s Bill. The bill will clarify and strengthen the Illinois Domestic Violence Act and the Firearm Restraining Order Act to require a firearm be removed from a home when a domestic violence survivor is granted an order of protection with the firearm remedy.
“I join with the many committed advocates and survivors of violence today in calling on the General Assembly to pass Karina’s Bill.
“Our laws weren’t strong enough to stop the tragedy that took Karina and her daughter’s lives, but we can better protect survivors of domestic violence in the future by removing firearms from
the homes of known domestic violence offenders.
“The risk of intimate-partner homicide that a survivor faces increases astronomically — 500% — when their abuser has access to a gun. We also know that when a survivor takes the step to
leave a domestic violence relationship and file an order of protection against their abuser, this is a period of especially high risk.
“Illinois lawmakers can and must do better for survivors by passing Karina’s Bill. Our laws should work to protect survivors and their safety and not the rights of their abusers.”
About Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC)
The Gun Violence Prevention Political Action Committee (G-PAC) is the state’s leading gun violence advocacy organization. It was founded in 2013 to counter the political influence of the gun industry and their lobby in Springfield.
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