Skip to content

Which states prohibit domestic abusers under restraining orders from having guns?

32 states have adopted this policy

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Alabama has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
No

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Alaska has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Arizona has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Arkansas has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

California has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Colorado has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Connecticut has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Delaware has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Florida has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
No

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Georgia has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Hawaii has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Idaho has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Illinois has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Indiana has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Iowa has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
No

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Kansas has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
No

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Kentucky has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Louisiana has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Maine has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
No

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Maryland has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Massachusetts has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Michigan has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Minnesota has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Mississippi has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Missouri has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Montana has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Nebraska has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Nevada has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
No

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

New Hampshire has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

New Jersey has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

New Mexico has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

New York has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

North Carolina has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

North Dakota has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Ohio has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Oregon has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Pennsylvania has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Rhode Island has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

South Carolina has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

South Dakota has not adopted this policy

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Tennessee has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
No

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Texas has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Utah has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
No

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Vermont has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Virginia has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
No

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Washington has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

West Virginia has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Wisconsin has adopted this policy

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Wyoming has not adopted this policy

What It Does

While federal law already bars most people under domestic violence restraining orders from having guns, a separate state prohibition is important to ensure the law is enforced properly. The best states have closed the “boyfriend loophole,” going beyond the federal prohibition—which applies only to spouses, those who share a child, and co-habitants—to cover all dating partners. A full discussion on Domestic Abusers and Intimate Partner Violence is here. 

The Impact

Women in the US are 28 times more likely to die by firearm homicide than women in other high-income countries. The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely the woman will be killed.

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Policy adopted? Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Alabama No
Alaska —
Arizona —
Arkansas —
California Yes
Colorado Yes
Connecticut Yes
Delaware Yes
Florida No
Georgia —
Hawaii Yes
Idaho —
Illinois Yes
Indiana —
Iowa No
Kansas No
Kentucky —
Louisiana Yes
Maine No
Maryland Yes
Massachusetts Yes
Michigan —
Minnesota Yes
Mississippi —
Missouri —
Montana —
Nebraska —
Nevada No
New Hampshire Yes
New Jersey Yes
New Mexico Yes
New York Yes
North Carolina Yes
North Dakota —
Ohio —
Oklahoma —
Oregon Yes
Pennsylvania Yes
Rhode Island Yes
South Carolina —
South Dakota —
Tennessee No
Texas Yes
Utah No
Vermont Yes
Virginia No
Washington Yes
West Virginia Yes
Wisconsin Yes
Wyoming —
Show Citations and Footnotes 
Source: Ala. Code § 13A-11-72(a), (m); Cal. Penal Code § 29825(a); Cal Fam Code §§ 6211(c), 6210; Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-14-105.5(a), 18-6-800.3; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-217(a)(4), 53a-217c(5), 46b-15(a), 46b-38a(2)(F); Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 1448(a)(6); 10 Del. C. § 1041(2); Fla. Stat. §§ 790.233, 741.31(4)(b)(1); Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 134-7(f), 586-3(b)(1), 586-1; 750 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 60/214(b)(14.5), 60/201(a)(i); 750 ILCS 60/103(6); 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 65/8.2; Iowa Code § 724.26(2)(a); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-6301(a)(17); La. Stat. Ann. §§ 46:2136.3(A); 46:2151; Me. Stat. tit. 15, § 393(1)(D); Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety §§ 5-133(b)(14), 5-205(b)(12); Md. Family Law Code Ann. § 4-506, 4-501(m); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 10; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 121F, 129B, 131; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209A, § 1; Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 6(g), subd. 2(b)(7); Nev. Rev. Stat. § 202.360(1); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 173-B:5(II),  173-B:1(I), (XV); N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 2C:39-7(b)(3), 2C:25-29(b), 2C:25-19(d); N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 30-7-16(A)(2), 40-13-5, 40-13A-5, 40-13-2(D), (F), (A); N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act §§ 842-a(1), (2), 812(1)(e); N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law §§ 520.12(1), 530.141(1)(a), (2); N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-269.8, 50B-3.1, 50B-1(a), (b)(6); Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 166.255(1)(a), (3)(c), 135.230(4); 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6105(a.1)(2), (c)(6); 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 6102(a), 6108(a)(7), (a.1); R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-47-5(b); 8-8.1-1(5); 15-15-1(4); Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1307(f)(1)(B); Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 46.04(c); Tex. Fam. Code §§ 82.002; 71.004, 71.0021; Utah Code Ann. § 76-10-503(1)(b)(x); Va. Code Ann. §§ 18.2-308.09(5), 18.2-308.1:4; 13 VSA § 4017a(a)(2); 15 VSA §§ 1103(a), 1101(2); Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9.41.040(2)(a)(ii), 7.105.100(a)(a), 7.105.010(20); Wis. Stat. §§ 813.12(4m), (1)(am), (ag); 941.29(1m)(f); W. Va. Code §§ 61-7-7(a)(7), 48-27-502, 48-27-202; 48-27-204.

28x: Everytown analysis of the most recent year of gun homicides by country (2015 to 2019), GunPolicy.org (accessed January 7, 2022).

5x: Jacquelyn C. Campbell et al., "Risk Factors for Femicide in Abusive Relationships: Results From a Multisite Case Control Study," American Journal of Public Health 93, no. 7 (July 2003): 1089–97, https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.93.7.1089.

More from Keeping guns out of the wrong hands