Advocates push for guns to be taken from domestic abusers when order of protection served

Bill named for Chicago domestic violence victim allegedly shot and killed by husband this summer

By HANNAH MEISEL
Capitol News Illinois
[email protected]

CHICAGO – As lawmakers prepare to return to Springfield later this month for their annual two-week fall veto session, advocates are pushing for a measure that would require law enforcement to take guns away from people hit with certain domestic violence orders of protection.

In May, Democrats in the Illinois House passed a bill including that provision, but the Senate didn’t take up the proposal before the end of the General Assembly’s spring session. A little over a month later in early July, Chicago resident Karina Gonzalez, her 15-year-old daughter Daniela and 18-year-old son Manny were allegedly shot by Gonzalez’ husband Jose Alvarez after she was granted an order of protection against him. 

Karina and Daniela died from their wounds, while Manny escaped and survived. On Thursday, he sat stoically as lawmakers and advocates explained the urgency of passing a clarification to current law at a downtown Chicago news conference.

“Their murder is horrific and should have never happened,” said State Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, noting the shooting happened just a few blocks from her district office in Little Village on the city’s southwest side. “Manny, I’m sorry.”