Introduction
Over 1.8 million Arizona residents experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Fortunately, many victims survive these traumatic events; however, Arizona reported 1,074 domestic violence related deaths from 2009 to 2018, 62.8% of whom died by firearms. An abuser’s access to firearms can determine a victim’s chances of survival; domestic violence firearm prohibitions and removal laws save lives.
Arizona prohibits possession of firearms by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence while the person is serving a term of probation for that conviction. Arizona may prohibit the subject of an emergency order of protection from purchasing or possessing firearms for the duration of the order if the court finds that the defendant may inflict bodily injury or death on the plaintiff. Arizona may prohibit the subject of a final domestic violence order of protection from purchasing or possessing firearms for the duration of the order if the court finds that the defendant is a credible threat to the physical safety of the plaintiff or other specifically designated persons. If a court issuing a final domestic violence order of protection prohibits the defendant from possessing firearms, the court shall order the removal of the defendant’s firearms.
