2025 Mother’s Day Brings New Law to Chicago Domestic Violence Victims – Karina’s Law Now in Effect

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the amazing women who have raised us, cared for us, and who have protected us throughout our lives. For many, the day is a joyous occasion, filled with time spent with family members, and of course, the family’s matriarch. However, for others, Mother’s Day can be a stark reminder of a loved one that has been lost, and it is a day to remember them and the legacy they left behind.

This year in Chicago, Mother’s Day brought with it a change in the law, and a Chicago family and the Chicago community remembered the brave woman who gave the law its name. Karina’s Law went into effect on Mother’s Day, May 11, in an effort to protect domestic violence victims in Chicago and throughout Illinois. The law, named after Karina Gonzalez, a Chicago mother who was allegedly killed by her husband during a domestic violence incident, “requires guns to be removed from an accused abuser’s home after a victim is granted an order of protection in a domestic violence case.” The law is important because “The presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of homicide for women by 500%, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.”

A Son Speaks Out about Domestic Violence in Chicago

Karina Gonzalez’s surviving son, Manny Alvarez, spoke out about Karina’s Law, and the brave woman who the law is named after. Of the killing of his mother allegedly by his father, Alvarez said, “I’ve learned to kind of accept reality…I have learned to love the thing that I hate the most, which is what happened that night…My mother’s name is going to save one person, and even if it’s only one person, it’s one person that doesn’t have to be mourned and at a funeral that no one expected.” Alvarez was present when the 2023 domestic violence incident in which his mother was killed occurred. Alvarez’s father is alleged to have not only killed Karina Gonzalez, but he also is believed to have killed the couple’s 15-year-old daughter. Alvarez, fortunately, survived. Alvarez is reported to “be on a mission to make his mom proud” in the wake of her tragic and senseless death. Alvarez concluded, “Mom, I know you thought you came here to raise two kids, give them the life that they should deserve…Unfortunately, things panned out differently, but thankfully, Daniela went with you. She doesn’t have to endure the pain of what came after losing you. I’m going to make the best of it and not let your name die.”

Do Not Hesitate to Get Legal Help with Your Domestic Violence Case in Chicago

There is no question that domestic violence is dangerous in Chicago, and domestic violence victims should seek legal help to protect themselves as soon as possible. If you are in the Chicago area and you need legal help seeking an order of protection due to domestic violence, do not hesitate to call the lawyers at the law firm Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC. The experienced Chicago domestic violence lawyers at Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC are here to help protect individuals in Chicago in their complex domestic violence cases. Do not hesitate to speak to an experienced domestic violence lawyer about your case today. Contact Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC and speak to a lawyer about your case now.

Source:

abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-karinas-law-goes-effect-remove-guns-domestic-violence-situations-little-village-moms-name-son-speaks/16387910/