(WWJ) Starting today in Michigan, if a person is found to be at risk of harm to themselves or others with a gun, the state’s new so-called ‘red flag’ law can temporarily take away their firearms.
WWJ’s Ryan Wrecker spoke with April Zeoli, Policy Co-Director for the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention at University of Michigan, about how this will work.
Here’s what to know about the new law:
• The law allows enforcement officials, health providers, family members and intimate partners to petition the court for a ‘Extreme Protection Order’ that would temporarily disarm the person at risk, for as long as the order is in effect.
• A judge in a civil court (not a criminal court) will evaluate the evidence to determine whether or not the evidence is credible, and meets the threshold that’s set out in the law .
• The new law won’t effect gun owners who are not in danger of harming themselves and others, Zeoli said.
• Research from states with these laws already in place appears to show they can reduce suicides.