Law Enforcement Leaders Call on Congressional Leaders to Move Swiftly to Support the Enactment of Extreme Risk Laws

May 28, 2019

With extreme risk laws on the books in fifteen states, members of Giffords Law Enforcement Coalition urge Congress to pass a bill providing funding to implement them successfully

Extreme risk laws allow for the temporary removal of guns from people in crisis and have proven to save lives—particularly from gun suicides

May 28, 2019 — Today, members of the Giffords Law Enforcement Coalition called on Congress to swiftly pass the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019 , which would provide grants to help states pass and implement extreme risk laws. In a letter sent to congressional leadership, 14 top law enforcement officials highlighted how 15 states and the District of Columbia have enacted an extreme risk law to give local officers access to this lifesaving tool, and more than a dozen additional states have considered extreme risk laws this year.

The letter reads : “Gun deaths have been steadily rising in this country over the past decade, in 2017 reaching the highest number in nearly 40 years. Although gun violence won’t be stopped by a single policy, extreme risk laws provide law enforcement with a unique opportunity to intervene before tragedy strikes. We urge you to help states in their efforts to prevent gun violence and pass the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act as soon as possible.”

Extreme risk laws empower law enforcement and family members to petition courts to temporarily remove firearms from someone when there is evidence that the person is a danger to themselves or others while protecting due process. The seasoned law enforcement veterans point out that extreme risk laws could be used to prevent tragedies like the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting where the shooter displayed warning signs of violence but local officers had no legal means to act on those signs. These laws are also effective in preventing gun suicides, which account for 60% of gun deaths and have been rising in recent years.

Studies in Connecticut and in Indiana indicate that for every 10 to 20 extreme risk protection orders issued, one life was saved. In the past year alone, extreme risk laws helped disarm a student in Vermont who kept a “journal of an active shooter” and the brother of the Parkland gunman who showed signs of violence after the shooting.

In order for law enforcement to take advantage of this helpful tool, extreme risk laws need resources and support to be implemented successfully. The Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019 would assist and incentivize states to pass and enact extreme risk laws with federal grant funding. The grants provided by this legislation could be used for the development of materials and training for key stakeholders, improving firearms storage facilities and record keeping, and strategically evaluating the efficacy of these laws.

Members of the Giffords Law Enforcement Coalition who signed the letter include:

Chief Andrew Bidou – Vallejo Police Department (CA)

Ret. Robert Champagne – Peabody Police Department (MA)

Chief Louis Dekmar – LaGrange Police Department (GA)

Chief Ret. Ivan Fossen – Glenwood Police Department (MN)

Chief Michael Gahagan – Caribou Police Department (ME)

Chief Jeffery Hadley – Chatham County Police Department (GA)

B. Todd Jones – Former Director of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Chief Scott Knight – Chaska Police Department (MN)

Chief Ret. Ron Louie – Hillsboro Police Department (OR)

Chief Chris Magnus – Tucson Police Department (AZ)

Commissioner Ret. Charles Ramsey – Philadelphia Police Department (PA)

Sheriff Mike Reese – Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (OR)

Chief Paul Schnell – Inver Grove Heights Police Department (MN)

Chief Henry Stawinski – Prince George’s County Police Department (MD)

The Giffords Law Enforcement Coalition is a national initiative that brings together law enforcement officials from across the country who are committed to fighting for safer gun laws. Members of the Giffords Law Enforcement Coalition support the Second Amendment, believe that with freedom comes responsibility, and are focused on:

Combating dangerous legislation that would federally mandate concealed carry and lift restrictions on firearm silencers
Supporting stronger gun laws and ensuring lawmakers and stakeholders have the resources and training they need to prevent gun tragedies
Encouraging leaders to give law enforcement the tools they need to keep our communities safe