COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded Sen. Joe Schiavoni and Sen. Sandra Williams for introducing Red Flag legislation, which would empower family members and law enforcement to seek a court order temporarily restricting a person’s access to guns when they pose a danger to self or others.
Hundreds of volunteers are spending this morning meeting with lawmakers and staff in the Ohio Statehouse, urging them to pass the billintroduced by Sen. Schiavoni and Sen. Williams, as well as other pieces of legislation recommended by a bipartisan commission of Ohio lawmakers and backed by Gov. Kasich.
Red Flag legislation would empower family members and law enforcement to seek an Extreme Risk Protection Order, a court order temporarily restricting a person’s access to guns when they pose a danger to self orothers. Red Flag Laws allow people to act on warning signs and stop tragedies before they happen. Florida passed Red Flaglegislation in the wake of the Parkland tragedy, and the law has already helped law enforcement officials there.
More information about Red Flag laws is available here.
STATEMENT FROM MAUREEN WASHOCK,VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE OHIO CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUNSENSE IN AMERICA:
“By creating an Extreme Risk Protection Order, Red Flag legislation will give Ohio law enforcement officers an important new tool they can use to protect our communities from gun violence. In Florida, law enforcement officials have already used a similar law enacted in the wake ofthe Parkland tragedy, and I’m grateful to Sen. Schiavoni and Sen. Williams forworking to bring this life-saving policy to Ohio. Our lawmakers should act quickly to add Ohio to the list of states with this sensible law on the books.”