Related Articles
-Editorial
California has the strongest gun safety laws in the country which have helped lower the state’s rate of firearm deaths. But many Californians still don’t know that powerful tools already exist to help prevent gun violence.
A recent statewide poll found that 80 percent of Californians know little or nothing about gun violence protection orders (GVPOs). These civil court orders temporarily prevent a person at risk of harming themselves or others from accessing firearms
To close this information gap, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office launched the Reduce the Risk campaign through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). The campaign is raising awareness about gun violence restraining orders and other legal tools that can help families, educators, health professionals, and law enforcement takes action before violence occurs.
California’s use of GVROs is helping to prevent shootings and save lives, according to Ari Freilich, Director of the California Department of Justice’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Freilich emphasized that GVROs are an effective civil court process that allows law enforcement and others to request the temporary removal of firearms from individuals showing signs they may be a danger to themselves or others.
“These orders are not designed to punish,” Freilich said. “They are designed to prevent harm before it occurs. GVROs are a vital public safety tool that can temporarily restrict firearm access without incarceration.”
Since becoming law in 2016, California’s GVRO statute has served as a model for similar “red flag” laws adopted in 19 states and Washington, D.C. Unlike criminal prosecutions, GVROs are civil orders that can be issued even if no crime has yet occurred or if threats are not directed at a specific person.
“A court can issue a GVRO based on credible evidence that someone is on a dangerous pathway to gun violence—even if they haven’t yet broken the law,” Freilich explained. “That might include someone making threats on social media, writing violent manifestos, or expressing persistent desires to harm others.”
GVROs can be requested through two main pathways: an emergency process used by law enforcement during urgent incidents, and a standard petition process open to qualified individuals such as family members, intimate partners, coworkers, or school officials. In both cases, a judge must find that the subject poses a significant danger and that the GVRO is necessary.
“If the court receives sufficient evidence, it can prohibit the person from possessing, accessing, or acquiring firearms, ammunition, and key firearm components,” said Freilich. “It also requires them to transfer any weapons they already own and bars them from passing background checks.”
Freilich acknowledged that GVROs are not the right fit for every situation. “They don’t include all the protections of other restraining orders, like requiring someone to stay away from a specific victim,” he said. “But they are essential when the threat is more general, like a danger to the community or risk of suicide.”
He cited tragic examples, such as the 2018 Parkland, Florida school shooting, in which the shooter displayed numerous warning signs but still passed background checks and legally obtained the firearms used in the attack. “Within one month, Florida enacted a law modeled on California’s GVRO,” Freilich noted.
Chris Dargan, Senior Public Information Officer, Cal OES, highlighted significant progress in reducing firearm-related deaths through the strategic use of Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs)
Dargan outlined how GVRO use has surged by 538% from 2018 to 2023, with 2,073 orders issued last year—up from 424 five years earlier. Despite this growth, 2023 showed a notable 9% decline in new filings, signaling the potential stabilization of proactive interventions.
The most encouraging data comes from the impact on public safety. Firearm-related homicides in California dropped from 1,726 in 2022 to 1,461 in 2023—a 15% decrease. Firearm-related suicides also declined slightly from 1,698 to 1,651. These downward trends suggest GVROs are playing a key role in preventing tragedies before they occur.
GVROs are among nine types of protective orders available in the state. They are civil court orders that temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. Orders can be requested by law enforcement, close family members, coworkers, teachers, and others. Initially lasting 21 days, they can be extended up to five years depending on the situation.
Other protective orders include those for domestic violence, elder abuse, juvenile threats, and school or workplace violence. Emergency protective orders can be issued by law enforcement on short notice and are valid for up to 21 days.
The California Department of Justice uses the CARPOS database to track GVRO trends, while mortality statistics are provided by the CDC’s National Vital Statistics System.