ARS APPLAUDS THE UTAH STATE HOUSE FOR ADVANCING LEGISLATION TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF DOMESTIC ABUSERS’ HANDS, CALLS ON STATE SENATE TO FOLLOW SUIT

February 23, 2017 – Americans for Responsible Solutions, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Navy combat veteran and NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, issued the below statement today applauding the State House for advancing a responsible bill, H.B. 206, that will help keep guns in Utah from falling into the wrong hands.

The bill, H.B. 206, introduced by House Minority Leader Brian King, would address the gap in Utah law that allows domestic violence misdemeanants and people subject to domestic violence protection orders to possess firearms. Women are five times more likely to die when a firearm is present during a domestic violence incident, and in Utah, nearly 30% of all homicides last year were committed by a family member or partner.

“Like so many others around our country, Utah families know that guns and domestic violence are a deadly, tragic mix. We applaud the leaders in the Utah State House for advancing this commonsense proposal that will help keep guns out domestic abusers’ hands,” said Robin Lloyd, Government Affairs Director, Americans for Responsible Solutions. “This bill will help close the dangerous loophole in Utah law that allows domestic violence misdemeanants and people subject to domestic violence protection orders to possess firearms. We hope that the Senate will follow suit, pass this life-saving legislation, and send it to Governor Herbert’s desk.”