Supervisors Draw Attention to Gun Violence Restraining Orders

LOS ANGELES —The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Aug. 8 unanimously approved a motion by Los Angeles County Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn and Supervisor Hilda Solis which aims to raise awareness of gun violence restraining orders among LA County residents as tools to prevent gun violence. 

In 2016, California’s red flag law was signed into law, allowing law enforcement and members of the public to file for what are called Gun Violence Restraining Orders or GVROs if they have reason to believe a person is a danger to themselves or others. If approved by a judge, the GVRO can prevent a person who poses a significant risk of harming themselves or others from having or purchasing a gun, ammunition, or magazine for a specified length of time, between 21 days and five years.

“Gun violence restraining orders save lives, but right now most LA County residents don’t know about them,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, who has championed the effort to raise awareness of GVROs. “We have heard too many tragic stories of shootings where loved ones, coworkers, or neighbors were worried about gun violence but felt powerless to prevent it. We are setting out to change that.”

Gun violence restraining orders are disproportionately underutilized in Los Angeles County. In 2022, only 66 GVROs were granted in LA County and, of those, 65 were filed by law enforcement while only one was filed by a member of the public. San Diego County, while just one third the population of Los Angeles County, had over 400 GVROs granted.

A 2021 study found that 70% of respondents in California did not know about GVROs, but would consider using one in a high risk situation.

To improve public information and awareness of Gun Violence Restraining Orders, the LA County Office of Violence Prevention has created a new webpage for members of the public.

Find the webpage at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ovp/GVROs.htm.

It includes information about what GVROs are, who can file for them, videos about how to file GVROs in both English and Spanish, a list of legal aid organizations that can assist and data about gun violence restraining order filings in LA County.  The webpage also includes information about possible warning signs for both suicide and potential mass violence.

In addition, Supervisors Hahn and Solis’s motion will direct the Office of Violence Prevention to launch a wider information campaign with their community partners to distribute information about gun violence restraining orders. The motion also directs the Office of Violence Prevention to work with the Sheriff’s Department, courts, and Department of Justice to collect further data on GVROs as well as collaborate with the Sheriff’s Department to conduct trainings on gun violence restraining orders for deputies.