Travis County DA To Restrict Gun Access To Those Out On Bond

Austin TX

12 May, 2021

12:00 PM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza announced Wednesday a new policy that will aim to restrict gun access to those out on bond for a crime. The district attorney, Travis County Attorney Delia Garza, and Constable Carlos Lopez said for a wide variety of cases, the new policy will require defendants to surrender guns as a condition of their bond. Defendants will also be required to not be in possession of a gun while on bond, the DA said. In particular, the policy is targeting those accused in family violence cases, because they are "particularly at risk" of using a gun to injure or kill someone. "In 2019, in Texas, 185 Texans were killed by their intimate partners in 2019," the Office of the District Attorney said Wednesday. "Of those deaths, 63% of men and 53% of women used a firearm to commit a homicide." Here's how a person will be required to surrender guns as part of their bond: All family violence cases, regardless of whether a firearm was used in the instant offenseAll cases where a firearm was used in the course of the offenseAny case where the victim has reason to believe that the defendant has a firearm and is concerned that the firearm will be used against the victim or another personAny case where the defendant has made threats of violence against another person or entityAny case where competence is at issue or concerns have been raised about that the defendant is suicidal or exhibiting other signs of a mental health disorder or disease that brings into question the safety of firearm possessionAny case, even if not within the above scenarios, where an ADA believes that a firearm surrender is necessary for public safety If a defendant about to be released on bond meets any of those requirements, their bond will require that their license to carry a gun be suspended. Defendants will also be required to surrender all guns and not have guns on their person while the case is pending.