JB Pritzker signs ‘Karina’s Law’ to protect survivors of domestic violence from gun violence

HARRISBURG, Ill., (KBSI) – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed ‘Karina’s Law’ to protect survivors of domestic violence from gun violence.

Pritzker signed House Bill 4144 into law, Monday. Named after Karina Gonzalez – a Chicago woman who was shot and killed by her husband in 2023 – Karina’s law enables the swift confiscation of firearms from individuals who have an emergency restraining order against them.

For survivors of domestic violence, a legal document like an order of protection isn’t always enough to keep them safe from their abuser.

Karina Gonzalez was granted a protective order against her husband, Jose Alvarez in 2023 – just weeks before Alvarez shot and killed Gonzalez and her daughter.

Gonzalez’s son – who was also shot but survived – lobbied for the bipartisan bill to be passed in his mother’s name.

Karina’s Law allows local law enforcement agencies to promptly confiscate firearms from any individual whose FOID card has been revoked due to having a protective order against them.

Chief sponsor of the bill, State Senator Celina Villanueva spoke at the press conference, Monday.

“The reality is this – there are abusers that have access to guns and are not turning them in because they’re using it in order to harass, to hurt and to harm the people that they claim to love,” she said. “In the state of Illinois, we are giving victims and survivors recourse to be able to do something about it.”

Legal advocate Diane Taborn works directly with survivors of domestic violence at the Survivor Empowerment Center in Harrisburg. She said that by signing this law, it shows her that officials are taking a serious look at the trauma victims suffer.

“The victims are looking at it like someone is finally listening and knowing that we need help,” she said.

Taborn believes increasing protections will help more victims feel safe to come forward.

“Knowing that the law is now on their side and helping them, then I think that we’ll have more people coming forward, and I think the law will help them to remain safe,” she said.

FOX23 reached out to local law enforcement to get their perspective on the implementation of the law. They declined to comment at this time, stating that they are waiting for further clarification on the details of the law and how it is to be enforced.

The bill goes into effect May 11, 2025.