MA Legislature Enacts Extreme Risk Protective Order Legislation

BOSTON- Representative David P. Linsky (D-Natick) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature in enacting H.4670, An Act relative to firearms. The legislation establishes Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPOs) in Massachusetts. H.4670 represents a compromise of language between the House’s version of the legislation and the Senate’s version of the language. This legislation strikes a balance for family concerned for at-risk individuals’ access to weapons and penalties for those who use the law maliciously.

“Today was an incredibly important day here in the Commonwealth. Today we enacted legislation that keeps our residents safe. Extreme Risk Protective Orders will ensure that family members and law enforcement have the proper tools to intervene in a situation when someone is posing a risk to themselves or others, and provide that individual with safe circumstances to seek help,” said Representative Linsky. “I was incredibly proud to have worked on this legislation and to have voted to make it law in Massachusetts.”

H.4670 establishes Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPOs) in Massachusetts. An Extreme Risk Protective Order will allow family members and law enforcement to petition a judge to temporarily suspend an individual’s access to firearms if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. H.4517 closes a gap in Massachusetts laws by creating a mechanism for those witnessing an individual showing signs of dangerous behavior towards themselves or others to take action and remove guns from the situation. In addition to potentially preventing an act of gun violence, the ERPO creates safer circumstances for the individual to seek treatment or engage other resources to address the underlying causes of dangerous behaviors.

H.4670 was enacted by the Massachusetts House by a vote of 133-15, and by the Massachusetts Senate. It has been sent to Governor Baker who has 10 days to sign the bill into law.

###

For More Information: Abigail Silverman (617) 722-2575