Reps. Sweeney, Russo introduce Extreme-Risk Protection Order Bill

State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) last week introduced new legislation, House Bill (HB) 316, that would allow family members, household members, or law enforcement officers to file for a court order temporarily preventing individuals considered to be an imminent danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms.

“In many instances of gun violence, there were clear warning signs the shooter posed a serious risk of injuring themselves or others with a firearm,” said Rep. Russo. “Extreme risk protection orders save lives by giving families and law enforcement time to quickly intervene before those warning signs escalate into tragedies, while also respecting Second amendment and due process rights.”

“We are elected to serve the needs of our constituencies across Ohio, and protection from gun violence is something that Ohioans want,” said Rep. Sweeney. “We have to do all we can to prevent those individuals who should not have dangerous firearms from obtaining them, and this commonsense legislation fills that gap. The gun violence epidemic needs urgent attention from the legislature, and this bill should be called for a hearing as soon as possible.”

So far, seventeen states across the country have extreme-risk protection, or “red flag,” laws, including Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, and Illinois.