The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is set to advance a public outreach campaign on Tuesday to promote the use of gun violence restraining orders. These orders, approved by a judge, can restrict individuals from purchasing or owning guns if they are deemed a threat to themselves or others.
Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis believe that these orders are highly underutilized in the county. In 2022, only 66 such orders were issued, with just one being initiated by a non-law enforcement party. This is in contrast to San Diego County, which issued over 400 orders in the same year, despite having one-third of the population of Los Angeles County.
The Department of Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention has developed public outreach recommendations, which will be implemented to raise awareness about gun violence restraining orders. A website will be launched, information about the orders will be shared, and existing data on the orders will be collected and shared. The motion also directs collaboration between the Chief Executive Office, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and County Counsel to identify funding options for further recommendations outlined in the report.
Petitioning for a gun violence restraining order can be challenging, so dedicated personnel from the Office of Violence Prevention will be available to help individuals navigate the process. This assistance will be beneficial in ensuring that the tool is effectively utilized.
A state law passed in 2016 allows law enforcement, family members, domestic partners, housemates, and school officials to request a Gun Violence Restraining Order. This order mandates the confiscation of firearms and ammunition from individuals considered a threat for up to five years. The law also prohibits anyone subject to an order from buying firearms and ammunition, even if they currently do not own any.
Governed by the desire to address the epidemic of gun violence, the board has implemented various measures, including strengthening local gun regulations, advocating for stronger federal and state regulations, investing in community-based violence prevention programs, organizing gun buy-back events, and creating risk assessment and co-response programs.
The board recognizes that spreading awareness and improving access to Gun Violence Restraining Orders can significantly contribute to combatting gun violence. Therefore, it is crucial for Los Angeles County to ensure that its residents are knowledgeable about these orders and can access them when necessary.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
