Legislation Would Empower Family Members and Law Enforcement to Petition Courts to Temporarily Prohibit a Person from Having a Gun if They Pose a Risk to Self or Others
Red Flag Laws Could Help Prevent Firearm Suicides and Mass Shootings
HONOLULU – The Hawaii chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded the Senate Judiciary Committee for advancing Red Flag legislation, SB 1466. This legislation would enable family members and law enforcement — the people most likely to see warning signs — to seek a Gun Violence Protective Order, a court order temporarily removing guns from a person in crisis. Red Flag laws can help save lives by creating a way to act before warning signs escalate into tragedies.
This type of legislation gained traction in the wake of the Parkland shooting, where 14 students and three staff members were shot and killed. Thirteen states have enacted Red Flag laws, including eight last year alone.
“Hawaii has some of the strongest gun laws in the country, but we’re missing this critical tool to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a risk to themselves or those around them,” said Carolyn Pearl, a volunteer with Hawaii Moms Demand Action. “I’m encouraged to see our lawmakers standing up for gun safety by advancing this life-saving legislation. We should be doing everything we can to protect our communities, and this law will make it easier to prevent tragedy before it strikes.”
