Carbajal Applauds Justice Department Model Red-Flag Law to Help States Reduce Gun Violence

Press Release

Rep. Carbajal issued the following statement after the Department of Justice published model legislation to help state governments craft Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws last week. ERPO laws, such as the one California enacted following the horrific 2014 Isla Vista mass shooting, empower families and law enforcement to act on warning signs to prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining firearms.

"I lost my older sister to suicide with a firearm at a young age and then, in 2014, our community experienced a horrible tragedy when three students were shot and three more were stabbed by a gunman in Isla Vista. What I've learned since is that temporarily preventing people from having a gun while in a state of crisis, and giving our law enforcement the right tools to address dangerous behaviors, saves lives."

"The model legislation put forward by the Department of Justice, which is patterned after the Extreme Risk Protect Order Act I introduced with Senator Feinstein, is an important step which will help other states implement lifesaving red flag laws."

"However, the Extreme Risk Protect Order Act goes even further and authorizes funding for states to actually implement the law and includes measures to train law enforcement and raise public awareness. These components help make sure ERPO laws are utilized effectively in order to prevent tragedy."

"I applaud the Biden administration for taking this first step, which will allow more states to follow California's lead, and I remain committed to advancing the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to give states the resources needed to implement this life saving tool."

Background:

Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia have enacted ERPO laws, and DOJ's model legislation will help the remaining 31 states move forward with protecting their communities from preventable tragedies due to gun violence through common sense legislation.

Rep. Carbajal will continue to champion this important solution at a federal level through his leadership on the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act that he recently reintroduced in Congress alongside Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA), Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI).

You can read the full text of the Department of Justice commentary and model legislation here.

Rep. Salud Carbajal represents California's 24th congressional district, encompassing Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and part of Ventura County. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee, Agriculture Committee, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

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