Surrender that Weapon!?

SQ Attorneys

SQ Attorneys

Recently the Washington State legislature passed legislation (SHB 2622, effective June 11, 2020) enabling courts to take more aggressive measures when a person has been found to have committed domestic violence and yet outright disobeys a court’s order to surrender his firearm(s) and/or other dangerous weapon(s).

Under the new legislation, civil contempt proceedings are authorized to be brought against those folks who are deemed to not have complied with a court’s weapons surrender order. Either a court, on its own, or a prosecutor, can initiate the contempt hearing. If it is found that a weapon was not surrendered, the court can find the abuser ‘in contempt’ and may impose remedial sanctions designed to ensure ‘swift compliance’ with the court’s order to surrender weapons.

In short – under the new legislation – the list of folks who have standing to bring a contempt hearing has been expanded, and any uncertainty as to the remedy for a failure to surrender weapons has been removed. It is hoped that this legislation enhances the safety for survivors of domestic violence by ensuring swift and certain compliance with a court’s requirement to turn over weapons – guns and other dangerous things, i.e. knifes, nun chucks etc..

Of course, this, like all similar legislation, will most assuredly raise issues regarding our constitutional right to bear arms. In light of this, we shall see how SHB 2622 plays out in real time.

If you or a loved one is facing a criminal charge, or have been arrested in Seattle, don’t hesitate to hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Defense Lawyer. The Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified and reputable Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those arrested or charged for crime all across Western Washington and the Greater Puget Sound region. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible in light of all the surrounding circumstances of the given case. So, whether you are cited with an infraction or arrested and/or charged with misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or a felony, protect yourself … call SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900.

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