LA city attorney, experts call for federal change on gun laws in domestic violence cases

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Domestic violence experts and Los Angeles County City Attorney Mike Feuer are calling for a change in federal law to reduce gun violence in domestic abuse incidents.

In April 2005, Paula Manuel hoped a restraining order would protect her and her 4-year-old son Joshua from her husband Brian Manuel. But it didn't and her husband shot and killed her son.

Right now, the laws on domestic abusers and guns varies from state to state. In California, there is a law to remove guns from people with a domestic violence protective order, but there are 33 states without one.

"Gun violence and domestic violence are in fact a lethal combination," Feuer said.

The proposal would identify domestic abusers with firearms, ensure they give up their guns once they're placed on a restraining order and there would be a background check before the guns can be returned.

"When an abusive partner has access to a weapon, the risk that the other partner will be killed increases 500 percent," Feuer said.

Some people said there could be a battle from gun rights organizations.

Tulynn Smiley with the Center for Pacific Asian Family said the law would not impede on people's rights to defend themselves or hunt.

But while people said there should be a consensus on the issue, they admit they don't think Congress will take it up during the election year.