Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 4144, also known as Karina’s Law, into law on Monday, February 10, 2025. This legislation aims to strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence by ensuring the swift removal of firearms from individuals subject to restraining orders.

Karina’s Law is named in memory of Karina Gonzalez, who, along with her teenage daughter Daniela, was tragically shot and killed by her husband in July 2023, weeks after she had been granted an order of protection against him. Their son, who survived the incident, passionately advocated for the bill’s passage in the General Assembly.

The new law mandates that local law enforcement agencies confiscate firearms, firearm parts, and FOID cards from individuals whose Firearm Owner Identification cards have been revoked due to restraining orders. This action must occur within 96 hours of a judge issuing a search warrant, addressing the heightened risks associated with firearms in domestic violence situations.

“Protecting victims of domestic violence is a cause that’s taking a giant leap forward today,” said Governor Pritzker. “Karina’s law will protect survivors of domestic violence and give them the comfort of knowing their abuser will not have easy access to firearms. We owe it to Karina and Daniela — to Manny — and to all the victims and their families, to continue building all the support and protection that we can.”

Karina’s Law is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Pritzker administration over the past six years to protect survivors of domestic violence. These include signing the Illinois Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), requiring trauma-informed training in schools, and allowing survivors to omit their address from court filings to protect their safety.