Gun Restrictions
Kentucky law allows victims with Kentucky Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs) to be notified if the person their protective order is against (respondent) tries to buy a gun or similar weapon. Federal law, commonly known as the Brady Bill, prevents certain people with Domestic Violence Orders against them from buying or having guns or similar weapons. These people include the victim’s abusive parents or an abusive intimate partner. An intimate partner is your spouse, former spouse, parent of your child, or someone you live with or have lived with in an intimate relationship. To register for such notification, please call 1-877-242-4035.
Federal law also prohibits persons convicted of qualifying crimes of domestic violence from ever possessing a firearm again. The crime must have been one involving the use or attempted use of force or threatened use of a deadly weapon. Additionally, the crime must have been committed by a spouse, former spouse, parent, guardian, or one who lives or has lived as a spouse, parent or guardian to the victim.
In the event that a person prohibited from possessing a firearm, either by virtue of a protective order, or a criminal conviction, is found to be in violation of the ban, it is up to federal agencies to investigate and prosecute the individual. This generally means the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is the law enforcement agency that investigates, and the US Attorney’s office prosecutes the case.