SAN DIEGO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta Tuesday joined San Diego leaders to announce the expansion of the state's Gun Violence Restraining Order program, intended to take away firearms from people who pose a threat to themselves or others.
Commonly known as gvro's, or a "red flag" gun law, they prohibit people at risk of using a gun to hurt themselves or others from owning or buying a firearm for a period of up to five years.
This can include domestic violence offenders, people who make online threats, or those with dementia.
San Diego has obtained 3,700 gvro's since 2018, more than any other city in the United States.
Bonta applauded San Diego's efforts, saying we have led the way.
"They work, and when protective orders work, we should use them more. San Diego knows that. They've used them more than anyone else, any other jurisdiction in the state, and it's not because they're overusing it. They're using it appropriately within the rules, with appropriate due process when the facts and the law dictate it. Other jurisdictions need to do what they're doing," said Bonta.
As a result of the program's success, Bonta announced the program will expand statewide.
That includes giving four point two million dollars to San Diego to help increase training for law enforcement, education for the public, and create a Firearms Relinquishment Task Force to enforce court orders that require people to give up their guns. Specifically, the task force will:
- Identify individuals who are a danger to themselves or others
- Support survivors, law enforcement, and other stakeholders in obtaining protection orders that include firearm restrictions to disarm people who are a danger
- Ensure people subject to those orders receive consistent information about how to comply with these orders by safely relinquishing firearms to gun dealers or law enforcement
- Ensure that courts, law enforcement, and other stakeholders promptly identify and disarm individuals who remain unlawfully armed.
"We want the people of California and the nation to know that the evidence is in on gun violence restraining orders," Elliott said. "They work. They save lives, and as you can see from the representation here today, you can have confidence that your request for help obtaining a GVRO will be handled appropriately, professionally, and quickly."
"This funding will lead to one of the most significant expansions of gun violence prevention work in California since GVRO laws passed 10 years ago. My office refers to this effort as gun violence prevention, 2.0," said San Diego City Attorney, Mara Elliott.
In June, Bonta's Office of Gun Violence Prevention issued a report on California's nine court protection orders to prevent gun violence. That report called for communities to take "coordinated action to implement and enforce protection orders to prevent gun violence," a statement from Bonta's office read.
Watch Related: California Attorney General urges state to follow San Diego's lead when it comes to gun control (Aug 25, 2022)