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Which states prohibit domestic abusers under temporary restraining orders from having firearms?

12 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

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Alabama has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Alaska has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Arizona has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Arkansas has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

California has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Colorado has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Connecticut has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Delaware has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Florida has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Georgia has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Hawaii has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Idaho has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Illinois has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Indiana has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Iowa has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Kansas has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Kentucky has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Louisiana has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Maine has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Maryland has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Massachusetts has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Michigan has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Minnesota has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Mississippi has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Missouri has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Montana has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Nebraska has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Nevada has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

New Hampshire has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

New Jersey has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

New Mexico has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

New York has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

North Carolina has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

North Dakota has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Ohio has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Oregon has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Rhode Island has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

South Carolina has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

South Dakota has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Tennessee has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Texas has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Utah has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Vermont has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Virginia has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Washington has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

West Virginia has adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Wisconsin has not adopted this policy

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Wyoming has not adopted this policy

What It Does

Federal law prohibits gun possession by most domestic abusers under longer-term restraining orders, but does not cover the emergency period during which a temporary order is in place—and before the hearing for a longer-term order can occur. Several states have closed this gap, protecting victims of abuse immediately after an initial order is issued. A full discussion on who should be prohibited is here. 

The Impact

The period immediately after a separation can be acutely dangerous for a domestic violence victim. State laws requiring or allowing gun prohibition for abusers in these emergency settings are associated with a 16% reduction in intimate-partner homicide with a firearm.

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Policy adopted?
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Show Citations and Footnotes 
Source: Cal. Penal Code § 29825(a); Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217(a)(4); Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-7(f); 750 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 60/214(a), 60/217(a)(3)(i); 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 65/8.2; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B(1)(viii), 131F; NJ Stat. 2C:58-3a(c)(6); N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act § 842-a; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-269.8; Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 25.07; Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.800 (1), (2), (4); W. Va. Code § 48-27-403.

Zeoli, A., McCourt A., Buggs S., Frattaroli S., Lilley D., Webster D. “Analysis of the Strength of Legal Firearms Restrictions for Perpetrators of Domestic Violence and Their Associations With Intimate Partner Homicide.” American Journal of Epidemiology. (2018). https://bit.ly/2DB3LKi.

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