In the wake of the murder-suicide involving Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jevon Belcher, the relationship between gun violence and domestic disputes is a complicated, yet controversial issue. We want our readers to know that we take no position on the circumstances surrounding last week’s events, or on whether any constitutional issues are offended with regard to gun control.
However, we cannot ignore the fact that family court judges take domestic violence very seriously, especially when gun violence (or at least the threat of it) is involved. Family law cases, especially child custody issues, have the potential to explode into violence. For the sake of the children, judges are careful to avoid situations where kids can become collateral damage in a war between parents.
With that said, it comes as no surprise that Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs surrendered a number of firearms to police as part of a child custody case involving his long-time girlfriend and mother of his two children. According to an ESPN.com report, the parties had previously filed competing custody complaints in November. Also, two 911 calls were received from Suggs’ residence on November 21, but no reports were filed as a result.
Suggs’ attorney told the Baltimore Sun that his client turned the guns over to police according to a court order, and that he previously was in “rightful and lawful possession of the guns.” He also reported that the couple was working on resolving their issues.
The Baltimore Ravens did not offer any further comment on the matter.
Source: ESPN.com, Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens forced to surrender firearms as part of domestic case, December 7, 2012