When Paper Isn’t Enough: How Protective Orders Can Fail Domestic Violence Victims

In theory, protective orders are meant to be a shield, a legal boundary between a victim and their abuser. But in reality? That piece of paper is often just that: a paper. Not a forcefield. Not a guaranteed protection. And tragically, not always enough to stop deadly violence.

The heartbreaking case of Alanna Singleton in New Orleans is a chilling reminder of this truth. Despite having filed for a restraining order, she was murdered just days later by the very man she feared.

The Case of Alanna Singleton

On a steamy August morning in 2025, 37-year-old Alanna Singleton was found dead inside her New Orleans home, shot multiple times by her estranged boyfriend, Paul Varnado, who then turned the gun on himself.

This wasn't random. This wasn’t unexpected. Alanna had just filed a restraining order against him.

She did what victims are told to do. She sought help. She followed the legal process. But the law didn’t get there fast enough.

The Illusion of Safety: When Protective Orders Fall Short

Let’s be clear, restraining orders can be useful. In many cases, they establish a legal boundary and consequence. But they also rely on one dangerous assumption: that the abuser respects the law.

And abusers, especially those prone to violence, often do not.

Here's where things break down:

• Delay in enforcement: Between filing and enforcement, there's often a critical window where the abuser is not yet restrained, and the victim is most at risk.

• Lack of follow-up: There’s rarely an immediate check on whether the abuser has access to weapons, especially firearms.

• No physical protection: A piece of paper doesn’t provide bodyguards, locks, or emergency relocation.

• Retaliation risk: Abusers often escalate their behavior when they feel cornered or exposed. Filing for protection is sometimes seen as “defiance” sparking rage.

Experts Say: Leaving is the Most Dangerous Time

According to domestic violence experts, the most lethal phase in an abusive relationship is not during the violence, but during the separation.

“The moment a victim tries to leave is when control is slipping from the abuser’s hands. That’s when he’s most dangerous,” says Dr. Lisa Fontenot, a trauma counselor specializing in intimate partner violence.

In fact, over 75% of domestic violence-related homicides happen when the victim is attempting to separate or has just left. The system, tragically, is often a step behind.

The Firearm Factor

Let’s not dance around the elephant in the room: guns. In Alanna’s case, like so many others, the restraining order did not lead to immediate firearm removal.

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, a woman is five times more likely to be killed if her abuser has access to a gun. Some states have laws requiring firearm surrender upon issuance of a protective order, but enforcement is inconsistent and sluggish.

In Alanna’s case, Paul Varnado should never have had a firearm in his possession. But no one came to take it away.

What Needs to Change?

The system is not hopeless, but it is flawed. And survivors are paying with their lives.

Immediate reforms should include:

1. Automatic firearm removal upon restraining order issuance.

2. 24/7 emergency response teams to check on victims and assess risk in the hours and days following an order.

3. Electronic monitoring for high-risk abusers.

4. Integrated lethality assessments by police when protective orders are filed.

5. Victim relocation assistance, including hotel vouchers or shelter coordination.

Honoring Alanna: A Call for Accountability

Alanna Singleton’s story must not be brushed aside as just another “domestic dispute.” She was a mother, a friend, a woman who did everything right, and the system failed her.

Her death is a blaring siren that tells us: Protective orders, without enforcement, are a false promise.

Final Thoughts: It’s Time for More Than Paper

Let’s be honest: tradition teaches us to respect the law. But if that law doesn’t have teeth, it’s nothing but a ghost of justice.

We need to modernize how we respond to domestic violence. That means putting real force behind restraining orders, rethinking how we handle separation periods, and doing more than just telling survivors to “file paperwork.”

Because lives, like Alanna’s, are on the line.