How guns are taken away under New York’s ‘red flag’ law.

Since New York’s so-called red flag law took effect in 2019, judges have issued 589 orders barring people from possessing firearms because they pose a danger to themselves or others, according to the State Office of Court Administration.

About 18 orders to take guns away from people are issued per month under the law, which allows relatives and law enforcement or school officials to request what is known formally as an extreme risk protection order.

The process involves filing an application with the state court system at the county level, stating that a person “is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to self or others” as defined in part 9.39 of State Mental Hygiene Law.