Extreme Risk Protection Orders

I-1491   Extreme Risk Protection Orders   

Ballot language:  Initiative Measure No. 1491 concerns court-issued extreme risk protection orders temporarily preventing access to firearms. This measure would allow police, family, or household members to obtain court orders temporarily preventing firearms access by persons exhibiting mental illness, violent or other behavior indicating the may harm themselves or others. Should this measure be enacted into law?

This measure is sponsored by the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.  http://gunresponsibility.org/solution/extreme-risk-protection-orders/

Their statement: Extreme Risk Protection Orders will allow families and law enforcement to petition a court to temporarily suspend a person’s access to firearms if there is documented evidence that an individual is threatening harm to themselves or others. The person subject to that order must surrender their guns to police and will not be able to buy, sell, or possess other firearms for up to one year.

The opposition has paid for ad space on Google. https://know1491.org/   Their prime compliant appears to be that an extreme risk order would stigmatize mental illness. The sponsors of this ad do not name themselves, but they do list other organizations and their various positions. The National Alliance on Mental Illness, Washington remains neutral on the issue. American Civil Liberties Union, WA remains neutral. The sponsor in the contacts link, Mr David Combs, includes a disclaimer to the effect that his naming of organizations does not imply their endorsement for his position. His Linked In page says he is a mental health advocate.  I also had occasion recently to speak with someone who is upset at the notion that anyone who wants to harm or stigmatize another could claim extreme risk and thereby deprive someone of his/her right to own a weapon. I understand the argument, but am not persuaded.

Personally, I hate guns. Their sole purpose in this world is to kill, hurt, or threaten. I don’t believe anyone should have them except for the very specific purpose of hunting for food. The more we can do to keep guns out of the hands of people likely to hurt/kill themselves or others, the better.

I will be voting a resounding YES on I-1491