Domestic violence bill wins final passage in Senate

The Connecticut Senate voted 23 to 13 Monday for final passage of a bill proposed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that will require gun owners to surrender their firearms within 24 hours of being served with a temporary restraining order in domestic violence cases.

Current law requires gun owners accused of abuse to surrender their arms only if a judge issues a permanent restraining order after a contested hearing, leaving guns in the home during the volatile period when a victim may be exiting an abusive relationship.

The bill, which was passed by the the House last week on a vote of 104 to 42, would enact the same safeguards found in many other states: Firearms also would have to be given up during the pendency of a temporary restraining order.

Firearms owners would be entitled to a hearing within seven days. The weapons would be returned if a judge concluded there were no grounds for a permanent order. Opponents said even temporary confiscation of firearms was a violation of due process and Second Amendment rights.

Toni Boucher of Wilton, Scott Frantz of Greenwich and Tony Hwang of Fairfield were the only Republicans to support the bill. Cathy Osten of Sprague was the only Democrat opposed.