English
EspañolI have a temporary ex parte protection from abuse order against the abuser. Can his/her gun be taken away?
Kansas law states that it is illegal for a respondent to have a firearm with a protection from abuse order in place if it was issued after a hearing for which the respondent received notice of the hearing beforehand and s/he had the opportunity to participate in the hearing.1 A temporary ex parte protection from abuse order issued without notice to the abuser would not satisfy this requirement so the abuser can still have a gun while a temporary ex parte order is in place.
1 Kan. Stat. § 21-6301(a)(17)
I have a final protection from abuse order against the abuser. Can s/he keep a gun or buy a new gun?
Kansas state law says that it is illegal for someone who has a current protection order against him/her (a “respondent”) to have a firearm if the protection order meets the following three conditions:
- It was issued after a hearing for which the respondent received notice of beforehand and s/he had the opportunity to participate in the hearing;
- It restrains the respondent from doing any of the following:
- harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner, the intimate partner’s child, or the respondent’s child; or
- engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to him/herself or his/her child; and
- The protection order:
- includes a determination (“finding”) by the judge that the respondent represents a “credible threat” to the physical safety of the intimate partner or his/her child; or
- has terms in it that clearly prohibit the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the intimate partner or his/her child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury.1
Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict a person’s right to have a gun under certain circumstances, including when there is a final order of protection against him/her. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.
1 Kan. Stat. § 21-6301(a)(17)
Is there anything I can do to make it more likely that the abuser's gun is taken away when I get a restraining order?
Here are a few things that may help:
- If the abuser has a gun, tell the judge how many guns s/he has, and if s/he has ever threatened you with a gun(s);
- Ask the judge to specifically write in your restraining order that the abuser cannot own, buy or have a gun while the order is in effect. The form that you will have to fill out to petition for a restraining order will have a place where you can request additional protections. You can ask that the abuser’s gun(s) be taken away in that section.
- Before leaving the courthouse, check to make sure that the gun restriction is written on your order.
It also may be helpful if the judge explains what will happen to the abuser’s guns, who will take them, and where they will be held once you leave the courthouse. If the judge agrees to add language that the abuser cannot keep his/her guns while the restraining order is in effect, you may also want to ask that the judge:
- Require the abuser to give his/her guns to the police, or require the police to go to the abuser’s house and get them;
- Make it clear to both you and the abuser how long the guns will be kept away from the abuser; and
- Order that the police notify you when the guns are returned to the abuser.
