JB Pritzker signs Karina's Law removing firearms from domestic violence situations
CHICAGO (CBS) — A major new law is now in place in Illinois to try to prevent future domestic violence tragedies.
Governor JB Pritzker signed "Karina's law" on Monday, which requires guns to be removed from people who have a domestic order of protection against them.
Surrounded by advocates and families impacted by domestic violence, Gov. Pritzker signs Karina's Law, which will require guns to be removed from the home of an accused abuser when their victim is granted an order of protection in a domestic violence case.
"Karina's law will protect survivors and victims of domestic violence and give them comfort – the comfort of knowing that their abuser would not have easy access to firearms.
A comfort that Manny Alvarez had longed for. He was just 18 years old when police say his father shot his sister, Daniela, and mom, Karina Gonzalez, to death inside their Little Village apartment in July of 2023.
Alvarez was also shot – but survived.
The tragedy happened just two weeks after his mother was granted an order of protection against her husband, but it hadn't been served. After the shooting, Alvarez became an advocate pushing for change in the law.
His courage to stand up was not lost on state leadership.
"Your bravery, your selflessness in the face of tragedy will save lives," Pritzker said.
"I'm so proud to be from Illinois, where we understand that laws have on our communities on our people," said State Sen. Celina Villanueva.
"My family, who had to go through the most unimaginable pain, but I think what makes us different is that we took that pain and turned it into action," Alvarez said.
In addition to having law enforcement forcibly remove firearms from an abuser's home, it will also allow anyone seeking an order of protection to ask a judge to issue a search warrant on the alleged abuser that would be executed within 96 hours of it being issued.
The law, officials say, puts victims and their families first.
"Here in Illinois we value your life and and the life of your family's more than we value our abusers gun," Rep. Maura Hirshauer said.
Karina's law, which the governor called a "game changer" for victims, officially goes into effect on May 11.
