10/19/2026
When a survivor knows their abuser has access to a gun, safety can feel out of reach. And when a court orders a gun removed but that order is never carried out, critical protection remains unrealized.
Since the passage of Karina’s Law in May 2025, Illinois has had a stronger legal pathway for removing guns from people prohibited from possessing them. Yet during the law’s first year, 60 firearm-seizure warrants were issued in Chicago and only one was executed. Legal Aid Chicago launched the Fi****ms Warrant Project in May 2026 to help bridge that gap.
Since then, our team has met with more than 250 litigants, helping them understand their rights and options under Karina’s Law. We identified 80 survivors who qualified for gun-related remedies, 47 who wanted to pursue an Emergency Order of Protection and accepted 39 cases where gun access poses a serious safety concern.
This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we're highlighting the legal advocacy happening beyond the courtroom to help survivors access gun-related protections, strengthen implementation of Karina’s Law, and advance its promise of greater safety for survivors and their families.
