Statement from Senator Kavanagh on Assembly Passage of the Governor’s Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill

(Albany, NY) — Today, the New York State Assembly passed A11148 sponsored by Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon — a gun violence prevention program bill from Governor Andrew Cuomo that would create Extreme Risk Protection Orders. The bill is based on legislation (S7133A/A8976B) sponsored by Senators Brian Kavanagh and Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Simon which passed the Assembly last year, and passed again earlier this year with strong bipartisan support. The Kavanagh/Hoylman/Simon bill is also supported by all 31 members of the Senate Democratic Conference and the New York ERPO Coalition, which includes gun violence prevention advocates, law enforcement, mental health organizations, and healthcare organizations. That measure was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, with eight Republican Senators voting to advance it.

In response to today’s Assembly vote, Senator Kavanagh released the following statement:

“Extreme Risk Protection Orders save lives. It’s that simple.

“Movement on this bill — much like the bill I sponsor, which passed the Assembly earlier this year — is a welcome development. I’d like to thank Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon for their leadership on preventing gun violence in our state and for championing this legislation.

“Thanks to our strong gun laws, smart policing, and community-based intervention, New York has the third lowest rate of gun-related deaths in the country. Despite this, 900 New Yorkers are killed by guns every year, and more than half of those deaths are suicide. Extreme Risk Protection Orders are a proven tool to reduce gun deaths — and would be effective at stopping gun violence in many settings, including mass shootings, suicide, and interpersonal violence.

“Once again, the Assembly has embraced these lifesaving measures. Unfortunately Republicans in the Senate have thus far failed to bring Extreme Risk Protection Orders legislation to the floor for a vote.

“I am confident that if brought for a full vote of the Senate, an Extreme Risk Protection Orders bill would pass. Adjourning without holding a vote would leave an untold number of New Yorkers to die preventable deaths.

“I will continue to discuss Extreme Risk Protection Orders with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and urge the Republican Senate leadership to schedule a full vote.

“We have four more legislative days before session ends. New Yorkers are waiting and watching.”

About Extreme Risk Protection Orders:

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (S7133A/A8976B) would help stop preventable gun tragedies including mass shootings, suicide, and interpersonal violence by empowering family members, household members, police officers, and district attorneys to petition a judge for an order preventing someone from possessing or purchasing weapons if the court finds they are likely to harm themselves or others. A11148 would also empower educators to request these orders.

Ten other states — Connecticut, California, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington — have similar laws. The Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont bills were enacted in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Many more states have bills currently pending before their legislature or awaiting a governor’s signature.

About the New York ERPO Coalition:

The Kavanagh/Hoylman/Simon bill (S7133A/A8976B) is supported by a broad coalition of gun violence prevention organizations, law enforcement officials, health care organizations, and mental health advocates.

The New York ERPO coalition includes: New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Giffords, Everytown for Gun Safety, the New York Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, New York Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Prosecutors Against Gun Violence, DA Cyrus Vance, Jr. (Manhattan), DA Darcel D. Clark (Bronx), DA Eric Gonzalez (Brooklyn), DA Madeline Singas (Nassau), DA Richard A. Brown (Queens), DA Michael McMahon (Staten Island), DA Anthony Scarpino (Westchester), DA Timothy Sini (Suffolk), Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, the National Alliance on Mental Illness-New York State, the Mental Health Association of New York State, the Mental Health Association of New York City, the Mental Health Association in Orange County, Mental Health America of Dutchess County, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the New York State Nurses Association, the Greater New York Hospital Association.

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