Rep. Johnson Votes to Empower Communities to Prevent Gun Violence Through Extreme Risk Protection Orders

Press Release

Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) voted to empower communities to prevent incidents of gun violence before they occur. The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act empowers family members and law enforcement to seek a federal court order to temporarily remove access to guns from those who pose a danger to themselves or others, while incentivizing states to adopt their own so-called "red flag laws."

"America's daily drumbeat of gun violence continues to inflict terror and grief on families in Georgia and across the nation," said Rep. Johnson. "Building on yesterday's passage of our landmark gun safety package, House Democrats proudly passed another common-sense measure: empowering communities to keep guns away from those who pose a threat to themselves or others. By allowing federal courts to issue extreme risk protection orders, this new legislation will help keep deadly weapons out of dangerous hands. Extreme risk laws are saving lives, already implemented effectively across 19 states. As we fight to get life-saving gun safety legislation over the finish line, House Democrats remain committed to bringing our nation's gun violence epidemic to an end once and for all."

In recent weeks, Americans have witnessed horrific mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York -- and just this past weekend, at least 13 mass shootings terrorized more communities across the country. A study by Everytown for Gun Safety found that most mass shooters exhibit warning signs before carrying out an attack. But without an extreme risk law, family and law enforcement lack the ability to temporarily disarm individuals considering acts of violence.

The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act will allow family members and law enforcement officers to petition a federal court for an extreme risk protection order, empowering federal judges to prevent tragic shootings by temporarily removing firearms from potentially dangerous individuals. Additionally, this legislation will establish a new grant program at the U.S. Department of Justice, incentivizing more states to allow their courts to take this same life-saving action.

Yesterday, Rep. Johnson voted for the Protecting Our Kids Act -- which he helped vote out of Judiciary Committee last week -- a robust legislative package of common-sense gun safety measures that will crack down on illegal gun trafficking, keep weapons of war out of the hands of teenagers, ban high-capacity magazines and bump stocks for civilian use, strengthen safe gun storage, impose background checks on untraceable "ghost guns" and more. This legislation builds on the Democratic House's twice-passed, widely-popular legislation to secure universal background checks for gun purchases and close the Charleston Loophole -- action that is supported by nearly nine in ten Americans.

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