Colorado Moms Demand Action, Everytown Applaud Colorado House Committee for Advancing Extreme Risk Protection Order Bill

DENVER ― The Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today responded after the Colorado House Judiciary Committee voted to advance Extreme Risk Protection Order legislation. The bill advanced by the committee, HB19-1177, would empower family members and law enforcement officers to ask a judge to temporarily suspend a person’s access to guns if they have documented evidence that the person poses a serious threat to themself or others.

“Family members and law enforcement officers are often the first people to recognize that someone poses a serious risk, either to other people or to themselves,” said Erin Bertoli, a volunteer with the Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “By creating a new way to protect loved ones and the public, an Extreme Risk Protection Order law would save lives. I’m grateful to the Judiciary Committee for backing this important public safety measure, and I hope the legislature will act quickly to send it to the governor’s desk.”

Last week, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund released new polling showing the vast majority of Coloradans — including 78 percent of gun owners — support allowing family members and law enforcement to ask a judge to temporarily suspend a person’s access to guns if they have documented evidence that the person poses a serious threat to themselves or others. Laws that create this process — Extreme Risk Protection Order laws — have gained momentum, with 13 states and D.C. having enacted one.

The poll of more than 1,000 registered voters was conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund. Among other findings, it found:

• 87 percent of respondents — including 78 percent of gun owners — support allowing family members and law enforcement to ask a court to temporarily suspend a person’s access to guns if there is documented evidence the person poses a serious threat to self or others.
• Support for this includes clear majorities of both Democratic and Republican respondents: 83 percent of respondents who identify as strongly Republican support this policy, as do 97 percent of those who identify as strongly Democratic.

Thirteen states and D.C. have enacted Extreme Risk Protection Order Laws, including eight in 2018 alone. More information about this type of legislation is available here.