Some defendants facing domestic violence charges would have to turn over their guns to the sheriff under a proposal that will likely soon be state law.

The bill's supporters said it would help protect victims in serious domestic violence cases.

"It's one of the most important bills this body has considered this session because it's one bill I think will save lives in the state of North Carolina in years to come," said Rep. Don Munford, a Raleigh Republican.

The state House on Tuesday approved the bill, which has already passed the Senate, by a 116-1 vote. The House must take a final vote before sending the bill back to the Senate. Sen. Tony Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat who is the bill's sponsor, said he would recommend the Senate approve the bill with the House changes.

The bill would require judges who issue domestic violence restraining orders to direct those accused of domestic abuse to surrender their guns in cases where defendants had used or threatened to use a deadly weapon on a child or spouse, had seriously injured a child or spouse, or had threatened suicide. When the restraining orders expire, defendants could go to court to request the guns be returned. The law would become effective Dec. 1.

Earlier complaints that the bill was a stealth gun control measure had diminished by voting time. In the end, Grass Roots North Carolina, a gun-rights group, was the only organization actively opposing the bill.

In a 111-4 vote, the House defeated an amendment that had been pushed by Grass Roots but that Munford said would have threatened the compromise other groups had reached.

As part of the compromise, lobbyists for the National Rifle Association persuaded the bill's supporters to drop a provision that would have allowed judges to look beyond the criteria listed in the bill and use their discretion when deciding whether defendants should surrender their guns.

Even some legislators who argued against the bill during the debate Tuesday and questioned its effectiveness ended up voting for it.

"You can't win by voting against this bill," said Rep. Russell Capps, a Raleigh Republican. "No one wants to vote against something that might stop domestic violence."

Rep. Billy Creech, a Clayton Republican who cast the only "no" vote, said people don't need guns to kill their spouses.

"I understand what this bill is attempting to do," he said. "There are other ways other than going after someone's property simply on a threat or a so-called threat."

Most victims in domestic violence homicides are shot, said Rep. Jennifer Weiss, a Cary Democrat. Quoting statistics from the N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Weiss said 22 of the 30 suspected domestic violence homicides in the first five months of this year were committed with firearms.

Beth Froehling, a public policy specialist with the domestic violence coalition, said the bill would help prevent murders.

"We think that the bill is going to save a lot of lives," she said.