Rep. Vargas Votes to Prevent Gun Violence Through Extreme Risk Protection Orders
Rep. Vargas Votes to Prevent Gun Violence Through Extreme Risk Protection Orders
The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act passed the House following deadly mass shootings in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX
WASHINGTON, D.C (June 9, 2022) — Today, Congressmember Vargas voted to prevent further tragic mass shootings through extreme risk protection orders. The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act allows family members and law enforcement to obtain a federal court order to temporarily remove access to guns from those who pose a threat to themselves or others, and incentivizes states to adopt their own “red flag laws.”
“Building on yesterday’s passage of our landmark gun safety legislation, I’m proud to vote for another commonsense measure to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves or others,” said Rep. Vargas. “Extreme protection orders keep communities safe, having already been implemented in California and 18 other states. This bill will help save lives and keep deadly weapons out of dangerous hands by allowing federal courts to issue extreme protection orders and prevent further tragic mass shootings. The gun violence epidemic has touched far too many families across our nation. We can no longer stand back and watch our children, friends, and loved ones die and not act. I am committed to ending gun violence once and for all.”
The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act will allow family members and law enforcement officers to petition a federal court for an extreme risk protection order, allowing federal judges to prevent further mass shootings by temporarily removing firearms from potentially dangerous individuals. Additionally, this legislation will establish a new grant program at the U.S. Department of Justice, incentivizing more states to allow their courts to take this same life-saving action.
Yesterday, Rep. Vargas voted to pass the Protecting Our Kids Act, a robust legislative package of commonsense gun safety measures to crack down on illegal gun trafficking, keep weapons of war out of teenagers’ hands, ban high-capacity magazines and bump stocks for civilian use, strengthen safe gun storage, and more. The Protecting Our Kids Act and Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act now move to the Senate for consideration.
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Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire U.S.-Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his fifth term in Congress. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee.