A bill passed Tuesday by Illinois lawmakers aims to provide more protections for victims of domestic violence by requiring law enforcement to confiscate firearms within 96 hours from people with restraining orders. protection against them.
The bill, dubbed “Karina’s Bill,” passed the Illinois House of Representatives by a margin of 80-33.
The bill is named for Karina Gonzalez, a mother in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood who was shot and killed along with her daughter by her husband, Jose Alvarez, in 2023.
Alvarez, who was under a protective order before the deadly attack, has since been charged with their murder.
Gonzalez’s son Jesús “Manny” Alvarez was also shot, but managed to escape. Since then, he has harnessed his pain and advocated for the bill named after his mother.
“The important thing now is to make sure that the issue is addressed properly and that it actually does what it’s supposed to do,” Manny told NBC 5 reporter Courtney Sisk after the bill passed of law. “My mother worked very hard regardless of the circumstances she was in, my sister was a very good scholar, I know they would be proud to know that they were able to make changes without being here.”
Amanda Pyron is the President of the Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. She was in Springfield with Manny when the bill passed.
“We owe survivors rigorous implementation so that once the bill is signed, we follow the cases through the courts to ensure survivors have access to the protections this bill provides,” Pyron said .
Pyron added that his team is already working on implementation strategies.
The bill now goes to Governor JB Pritzker’s desk for final approval.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the Illinois Department of Human Services offers a 24/7 hotline to help connect you to resources throughout the state. This number is 1-877-863-6338. It is free, multilingual and confidential.
NBC Chicago
