Introduction
Nearly 5 million Florida residents experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Fortunately, many victims survive these traumatic events; however, Florida reported 1,844 domestic violence murders from 2010 to 2019. Although Florida doesn’t report the mechanism of death, evidence suggests firearms are a significant contributing factor. An abuser’s access to firearms can determine a victim’s chances of survival; domestic violence firearm prohibitions and removal laws save lives.
Florida does not prohibit purchase and possession of firearms by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. Florida prohibits purchase and possession of firearms and ammunition by persons subject to a final domestic violence injunction that restrains the person from committing acts of domestic violence, stalking, or cyberstalking. Florida does not explicitly require removal of firearms from subjects of final domestic violence injunctions, nor does Florida explicitly authorize judges to order the removal of firearms; however, it is a crime for the subject of such an order to fail to surrender firearms or ammunition if ordered to do so by the court.
