State Senator Kevin Parker Joins Legislators, District Attorneys, School Attorneys, Doctors, and Gun Violence Prevention Advocates To Announce New Extreme Risk Protection Order Law (AKA “Red Flag” Law)

(NEW YORK) — State Senator Kevin Parker joined Senator Brian Kavanagh and Brad Hoylman, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, the authors of New York’s new Extreme Risk Protection Order law (ERPO, also known as the“Red Flag” law), to announce that, after years of advocacy, the law will go into effect across the state on Saturday, August 24 — giving New Yorkers an important new way to prevent gun violence when there’s evidence that someone is likely to harm themselves or others.

The ERPO bill (S2451/A2689) creates a new type of court-issued order of protection that temporarily prohibits individuals from purchasing or possessing guns if a family or household member, District Attorney, law enforcement officer, or school administrator petitions a court and the court finds that an individual is likely to engage in conduct that would harm themselves or others. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have adopted ERPO laws, and there is growing evidence that they can be effective at preventing suicides, mass shootings, and other instances of gun violence. Experience in other jurisdictions suggests that effective implementation of ERPO laws depends substantially on the readiness of the courts and the officials who are authorized to seek the orders, as well as public awareness.

State Senator Kevin Parker had the following to say about the bill “New York State continues to make gun violence a priority, which is why I am proud to stand in solidarity with Senator Brian Kavanagh, our colleagues in government, and gun safety advocates, to not only announce the passage of New York’s Red Flag Law, but to also educate the public on how this new law will make our State even safer. Today, we are taking additional measures to ensure that anyone who will likely harm themselves or others will not have access to firearms. The Red Flag Law compliments my law passed this session banning ghost guns, as well as my bill to include a social media search as part of the approval process to obtain a firearm license in New York State. We must have a concerted effort at all levels of government to combat this epidemic of gun violence in our community.”

Senator Brian Kavanagh (Manhattan and Brooklyn), prime sponsor of the law and Chair of the American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention, said: “Saturday, August 24th is a big day for everyone who joined the effort we began in 2014 to empower New Yorkers to save lives with Extreme Risk Protection Orders. Now our success in reducing gun-related deaths and injuries will depend upon our ability to make sure everyone is aware of the new law — not only judges, district attorneys, police officers, and educators, but also the general public who may become aware that someone close to them poses a danger to themselves or others. I look forward to working with my colleagues in government and everyone who is committed to ending gun violence in New York, to make the most of the new law. I thank Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, Senator Brad Hoylman, Senate Leader Andrea-Stewart Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, our legislative colleagues who supported the bill, Governor Andrew Cuomo, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, and all the advocates who worked hard to see this day finally come. Our work begins a new on Saturday.