Spring Town Hall

April 15 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join Representative Hirschauer for a mid-session town hall on legislation, budget, community safety, and pressing topics of Illinois’ 49th District. Register with your topics of priority and your specific questions to ensure they are discussed that evening.

Registration required below. Zoom links will be sent the day of the event.

This event will be presented in English with automated captions available in many languages. Automated translations may be inaccurate. If something seems alarming or out of context, please contact our office for clarification and we will consult an interpreter to facilitate understanding of your concerns and Rep Hirschauer’s response.

Acompañe a la Representante Hirschauer en una reunión pública a mitad de sesión sobre legislación, presupuesto, seguridad comunitaria y temas urgentes del Distrito 49 de Illinois. Inscríbase con sus temas prioritarios y sus preguntas específicas para asegurarse de que se aborden esa noche.

Se requiere registro a continuación. Los enlaces de Zoom se enviarán el día del evento.

Este evento se presentará en inglés con subtítulos automáticos disponibles en varios idiomas. Las traducciones automáticas pueden ser inexactas. Si algo le parece alarmante o fuera de contexto, comuníquese con nuestra oficina para obtener una aclaración y consultaremos con un intérprete para facilitar la comprensión de sus inquietudes y la respuesta del Representante Hirschauer.

Free

State Representative Maura Hirschauer

331-465-9661

View Organizer Website

office@repmaura49.com

Zoom

Karina’s Bill FAQ

Posted on March 14, 2025March 14, 2025 by Intern Rep Hirschauer

What is Karina’s Bill?

“Karina’s Bill”, a piece of legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly in January 2025, is aimed at enhancing protections for victims of domestic violence. The bill mandates that law enforcement agencies confiscate firearms from individuals subject to an order of protection within 96 hours of its issuance. This measure addresses a critical gap in existing laws, ensuring that alleged abusers do not retain access to firearms during the period when an order of protection is in effect.

Listed below is a FAQ on the processes and requirements of how firearms are to be returned after an Order of Protection (OOP) expires. Answers are referenced directly from ILGA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

*Note: “Respondent” refers to the owner of the firearms that are confiscated. All mentions of “firearm” below also include “firearm parts” which could be assembled to create an operable firearm.

• What happens to a respondent’s firearms after they’re confiscated?

They are held by the law enforcement agency that took possession of the items for safekeeping.¹ Law enforcement will also confiscate any Firearm Owner’s Identification Card or Concealed Carry License in possession of the respondent, and shall immediately mail it to Illinois State Police Firearm Owner’s Identification Card Office for safekeeping.²

• How do respondents reclaim their firearms?

The respondent may contact the law enforcement agency safekeeping their firearm to request them back. Law enforcement shall comply only if:

the order of protection for the victim has expired AND
the gun owner is legally allowed to own firearms.³

It is the responsibility of the respondent to request their Firearm Owner’s Identification Card or Concealed Carry License back by contacting the Illinois State Police Firearm Owner’s Identification Card Office.⁴

• How will law enforcement return confiscated firearms?

Law enforcement will attempt to contact the respondent to reclaim their firearm but will pursue other options if the respondent:

fails to respond to more than three requests to retrieve the firearms OR
cannot be located.⁶

• What if the respondent cannot be contacted?

If retrieval is unsuccessful, the court, upon petition from the appropriate law enforcement agency and notice to the respondent at their last known address, may:

use the firearm for training purposes OR
use the firearms for any other application as deemed appropriate OR
turn the firearms over to a third party who is lawfully eligible to possess firearms and does not reside with the respondent.⁷

Additionally, a third party who is lawfully eligible to claim the firearms for the respondent, but only provided that:

the third party must not reside with the respondent AND
the respondent must not have access to the firearm AND
the third party must not transfer the firearm to anyone else AND
the third party will maintain control and possession of the firearm until otherwise ordered by the court AND
the third party will be subject to criminal penalties for transferring the firearms AND
the order of protection is expired.⁸

• How long does it take for a firearm to be returned?

Once a firearm return request has been filed, the police department shall return their firearms to them within 14 days (however, the statute currently does not specify in what way firearms will be returned).⁵

• What happens when firearms are claimed to be the property of another person while confiscated?

They may petition the court to have the firearms returned to them with proper notice to the respondent. At a hearing, if the court determines the petitioner to be the lawful owner, the firearms will be returned to them only if:

the lawful owner agrees to store the firearm in a manner that does not provide access or control of the firearm to the respondent AND
the lawful owner does not transfer the firearm to the respondent or anyone who resides with them AND
the lawful owner does not reside with the respondent AND
the respondent does not have access to the location in which the lawful owner intends to keep the firearms AND
the lawful owner will maintain control and possession of the firearm unless otherwise ordered by the court.⁹

If you have still have any unanswered questions, please reach out to our office.

Hirschauer Passes “Karina’s Bill” to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors From Firearms

Posted on January 7, 2025January 29, 2025 by Office of Maura Hirschauer

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, delivered Karina’s Bill (HB4144), legislation that will protect domestic violence survivors from firearms. The product of years of negotiation and advocacy by Hirschauer along with domestic violence and gun violence prevention advocates, Karina’s Bill will clarify and strengthen the law regarding the firearm remedy in criminal and civil orders of protection.

“After years of fighting in Springfield and in the courts, and after extensive negotiation and advocacy, the passage of Karina’s Bill marks a significant step forward in protecting domestic violence survivors from firearms,” Hirschauer said. “This survivor-centered bill honors the memory of Karina Gonzalez and her daughter Daniela who were murdered by an abuser who should have never had access to a firearm.

Everyone who dreams of a future without gender-based violence knows that we cannot erase tragedies in the past, but we can and we must work to build a better future in memory of victims, survivors, and all who love them. The passage of Karina’s Bill is a long overdue step in that direction.”

Karina’s Bill combats the deadly combination of guns and domestic violence by strengthening the firearm remedy within the order of protection process and empowering judges with the ability to order the removal of guns from abusers who have been deemed a credible danger. The bill also clarifies the process for survivors, judges, and law enforcement when the firearm remedy is involved in criminal and civil orders of protections. Research has shown that the presence of a gun in a home where domestic abuse occurs increases the risk of homicide by 500%.

“In a domestic abuse situation, a gun becomes a means of control. It is used to stop survivors from leaving threatening situations, it can perpetuate the cycle of abuse, and ultimately it can turn a dangerous situation into a deadly situation,” Hirschauer said. “This bill is about protecting survivors. And most importantly, it is about valuing women’s lives more than we value guns.”

Town Hall

June 4, 2024 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join Representative Hirschauer for an End of Session update. Learn about her sponsored or co-sponsored bills that passed, how she and her office are supporting the people of the 49th, and upcoming events and opportunities.

Free Register below

State Representative Maura Hirschauer

331-465-9661

View Organizer Website

office@repmaura49.com

Zoom

Veterans Community Advisory Committee

Veterans Community Advisory Committee

July 9, 2024 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

For our July 9 meeting, we will meet in person at the offices of Rep. Hirschauer and Sen. Villa. Come discuss the legislation that passed this past spring as well as any you’d hoped to see pass or ideas for future bills to support our veterans and their families.

Please contact office@repmaura49.com to request the zoom link.

Free

State Representative Maura Hirschauer

331-465-9661

View Organizer Website

office@repmaura49.com

State Senator Karina Villa

(630) 326-9319

View Organizer Website

info@senatorvilla.com