Senate passes bill meant to protect domestic abuse victims

DES MOINES – The Senate approved a bill Thursday that would prohibit people who have been convicted of domestic abuse or who are the subject of a no-contact order from possessing firearms.

Upon notice that a no-contact or protective order has been issued, the person would have to relinquish firearms to the county sheriff or local law enforcement agency. Once a protective order is lifted, those weapons could be returned.

Sen. Keith Kreiman, D-Bloomfield, said the bill would provide additional protections for victims of domestic abuse.

Since the beginning of 1995, Kreiman said, 205 Iowans have been killed in domestic abuse murders, 114 of them with guns.

“This bill is about victims,” Kreiman said.

Under the bill, those accused of breaking the law could face a class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Sen. David Hartsuch, R-Bettendorf, raised objections that a lower standard of proof is required for a judge to issue a no-contact order and said a high level of false allegations are common in these cases.

“I think my main objection is making sure there is adequate due process, especially when an innocent person's future may be involved,” Hartsuch said.

Hartsuch unsuccessfully offered a series of amendments meant to protect people who might have been falsely accused and punish those who made false allegations.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller called the Senate's passage of the bill a victory for public safety and urged the House to take it up.

“This law will help prevent women, men and children from being terrorized, maimed and killed by violent domestic abusers,” Miller said in a statement. “It will only remove guns from domestic abusers.”

In other Senate action:

-- The Iowa Senate on Thursday approved a $51.2 million supplemental spending bill meant to backfill across-the-board cuts to education, public safety and health care this year.

The bill would send roughly $31.3 million more to the regents universities with $14.3 million going to the University of Iowa, $10.8 million going to Iowa State University and $5.2 million going to the University of Northern Iowa.

Community colleges will see another $5.9 million.

Roughly $7.9 million would be directed to the Department of Corrections and local community-based corrections agencies.

An array of health programs through the Department of Public Health also would see $4.4 million restored, including funding for addictive disorders and infectious diseases.