The Nevada chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action issued the following statement following approval by the Nevada Interim Finance Committee for funding to better implement Nevada’s Extreme Risk Protection Order Act. Nevada’s extreme risk law allows family members or law enforcement to petition a court to remove access to firearms from individuals who are a danger to themselves or others. This funding will help ensure that Nevadans and law enforcement officers are aware of the life-saving tools available to them and how to use the law to prevent gun violence.
“Laws can only save lives when they are put to use – so proper funding for implementing our extreme risk law is of critical importance to address gun violence in Nevada,” said Jamie Bunnell, a volunteer with the Nevada chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We are incredibly grateful for the leadership of Governor Sisolak and Attorney General Ford for prioritizing gun violence prevention. We must continue to elect gun safety champions to save Nevadan lives.”
Extreme risk laws can help de-escalate emergency situations and are a proven way to prevent gun violence from taking more lives. The majority of mass shooters display dangerous warning signs before the shooting occurs, providing the opportunity to remove their access to guns with an extreme risk protection order. However, these tools are only helpful if actually used. Of the states that have Extreme Risk Laws, Nevada has one of the lowest rates of implementation.
The additional funding requested by the Attorney General will help implement this critical tool in mitigating gun violence. The request will transfer $400,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds from the COVID-19 Relief Programs account to support an Extreme Risk Law education initiative.
This action highlights both Governor Sisolak and Attorney General Ford’s prioritization of gun violence prevention.
In an average year, 519 people in Nevada die and another 277 Nevadans are wounded by guns. 68 percent of deaths by guns in Nevada are gun suicide, which Extreme Risk laws are proven to help prevent. Implementing extreme risk laws will save lives.
