Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move: On Kavanagh's Push for Extreme Risk Protection Orders To Stop Gun Violence

State Senator Brian Kavanagh(D-Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan) and Assembly member Jo Ann Simon (D-Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, DUMBO) are urging State lawmakers to include their Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) bill into the final budget.

The ERPO legislation would authorize families and law enforcement to seek court issued orders restricting access to guns for individuals who are likely to harm themselves or others. Kavanagh and Simon are part of a larger coalition aiming to get the bill passed in the wake of the deadly Marjory Stoneman High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Last week, the Senate and Assembly each included measures intended to prevent gun violence in their respective budget resolutions and Governor Andrew Cuomo this weekend announced additional gun safety measures he is looking to include in the state budget. The budget is due to be enacted by March 31

“The State budget is the most immediate opportunity to strengthen New York’s laws, and as part of budget negotiations, the Governor, the Senate, and the Assembly each have proposed legislation intended to reduce gun violence,” read a joint statement from the ERPO Coalition. 

“However, we believe that any package of legislation without an extreme risk protection orders bill would leave New York’s gun laws incomplete, and would allow preventable tragedies to continue occurring. An ERPO law would help ensure that individuals who are likely to harm themselves or others aren’t able to access guns. It would empower family members and police to take action before a tragedy occurs. And it would uphold the constitutional rights of all New Yorkers while saving lives,” continued the joint statement.