Ruppersberger Votes in Favor of Federal Red Flag Law

Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today voted for "red flag" legislation that will enable families and law enforcement to seek federal court orders to temporarily remove access to guns from those who may pose a danger to themselves or others. The "Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act" passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a 224-202 vote and now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The bill also creates a new U.S. Department of Justice grant program to encourage more states to allow their courts to take this same life-saving action. Maryland already has a red flag law, passed in 2018 with bipartisan support after a shooting in a high school in Parkland, Florida, left 17 students and staff dead.

Polls reflect broad consensus for red flag laws among the American public.

"Studies show that most mass shooters exhibit warning signs before carrying out an attack and we know that state-level extreme risk laws save lives, including here in Maryland," Congressman Ruppersberger said. "We must give family and law enforcement the ability to temporarily disarm individuals who are clearly considering acts of violence against themselves or others."

In recent weeks, Americans have witnessed horrific mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. Just this past weekend, at least thirteen mass shootings terrorized more communities across the country.

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, with due process. A judge, only after thorough review, could then temporarily prohibit an individual found to be dangerous to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms.

The vote comes one day after the House passed a comprehensive gun safety package that will raise the purchasing age for certain semi-automatic weapons and ban bump stocks and high-capacity magazines, among other measures. 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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