Texas county to become first to confiscate guns from domestic abusers

County officials say they will take around 700 guns per year

(Getty Images)

One Texas county is about to take an unprecedented step to get guns out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers.

Dallas County will soon start confiscating guns from people convicted on domestic violence charges, the only county in Texas to do so, according to WFAA 8. County officials say they expect to collect about 700 guns per year.

“This is new,” Paige Flink, executive director of The Family Place, a Dallas domestic violence shelter, told the local news station. “This is landmark. Getting guns out of the hands of abusers will save lives.”

Even though state and federal law forbids those convicted of domestic violence from possessing weapons, in Dallas County it was up to the person convicted of domestic violence to give up their weapons. One judge in the county said that did not go far enough.

“Pretty much when I ordered guys that they couldn't have guns anymore, it was pretty much on your honour,” said County Criminal Court Judge Roberto Cañas, one of two judges who handle misdemeanour domestic violence cases. “It's been a gap in the system response to this type of crime.”

Now, domestic abusers will be ordered to relinquish their firearms and will be required to show proof that they have done so. The weapons will be stored at DFW Gun Range and a deputy has been assigned to work at the range.

The offenders also will be allowed to hand their guns over to a third party who is legally allowed to possess a gun. Authorities will check gun permits and other official documents to determine if offenders may own a gun.

Officials in Dallas County have been desperate to address firearms in domestic-violence situations, as data shows that guns can have a devastating impact in those situations.

According to WFAA, women are 500 times more likely to be killed in domestic violence in homes with a gun. Firearms are involved in about 60 per cent of domestic violence murders in Texas.

“There's no doubt that the intersection of firearms and domestic violence is a very lethal one,” Mr Cañas said. “If we can take a step that will even prevent one homicide, this project will be worth it.”

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