New numbers show a big rise in action being taken in New
York to keep guns out of the hands of those who could pose a danger to
themselves or others.
According to Gov. Kathy Hochul, 832 “extreme risk
protection orders” were issued over the past three months across the state.
That's compared to a little more than 1,400 over the prior 20 months.
Those protection orders, or red flags, prevent people who
show signs of being a threat from being able to purchase or own a gun. Hochul
made it a requirement for state police to apply for them whenever there is
probable cause after the Buffalo mass shooting in May.
Since then, troopers have almost doubled their applications
from 2021. Then, when lawmakers passed a sweeping gun reform package in June,
that directive was expanded to all local law enforcement departments and
district attorneys in the state – as well as doctors, nurses and therapists.
The governor says it's aimed at preventing crime rather than having to solve
them.
Ultimately, a judge determines whether temporary
restrictions need to be permanent.
On Aug. 24, the state will be offering a free webinar to
help police departments all over the state learn how to better use the red flag
law – from identifying risky behavior to filing for one of those extreme risk
protective orders.