New Maryland Domestic Violence Laws Take Effect Thursday

ROCKVILLE, Md. (WUSA) -- Mary Crawford says a protective order didn't protect her from her husband. In 2000, he fired two shots but missed.

"He had a loaded rifle on the other side of the bed and pointed it at me and fired," he said.

The first bullet went right over her head, and the second bullet missed as well.

The protective order against her husband did not require him to give up his guns. That will change October first.

Two new laws require abusers to hand over their firearms when a judge grants a protective order. The guns won't be returned, until the protective order runs out.

"I believe that if this law would have been in effect, he would not have had a gun to use against me," Crawford said.

Earlier this month, Sheena Blanford and her sister were shot and killed in an Anne Arundel County home. It happened one week after Sheena received a protective order against her husband.

"These laws will help to protect victims of domestic violence and they will save lives," said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown.

Brown's family has seen what happens when domestic violence escalates.

"My cousin was shot and killed by her estranged boyfriend," he said.

He hopes these new laws will keep other families from experiencing a similar tragic event.

To read more about the new laws, click here.