Proposal is in response to mass school shooting in Parkland, FL
Under a bill by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), more people would be allowed to petition a court for a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO), which temporarily takes someone’s gun away if they pose a deadly threat to themselves and others. The California State Assembly approved AB 2888 today, which expands the list of people who can file for a GVRO to include school personnel, employers and co-workers. The vote on the floor was 48 to 25. Current state law allows immediate family members, roommates and law enforcement to file for a GVRO.
“As we saw in the February massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, teachers and administrators saw early signs that the suspected gunman, a student, could be a threat,” said Ting. “We want to give schools in California another tool to prevent more campus tragedies, and I’m happy to see my Assembly colleagues agree.” Multiple news stories cited that acquaintances of the alleged shooter reported warning signs and were worried about his access to guns.
According to the California Department of Justice, GVROs have been used 200 times since it took effect in 2016. Earlier this year, the San Diego City Attorney used this effective tool on 10 residents. When a judge grants a restraining order, a gun owner must surrender his or her weapon for 21 days while awaiting a hearing on whether the order will be extended to a full year.
AB 2888 now heads to the Senate for consideration. A previous version of this bill was vetoed in 2016 by Governor Brown who wanted to see how the new GVRO law was working before expanding it.
Contact: Nannette Miranda, 916-319-2019 or Nannette.Miranda@asm.ca.gov.
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