NY Red Flag Gun Law: Nassau Filed Far Less Petitions Than Suffolk

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — A new report shows Nassau County files far less "extreme risk protection orders" than neighboring Suffolk, even though the two counties have similar populations.

So-called red flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders or gun violence restraining orders, allow authorities to take guns from people thought to be a threat to themselves or others. The idea gained momentum across the country following mass shootings this year in Texas and Ohio, and they've been adopted in at least 17 states and Washington, D.C.

In New York, the law went into effect Aug. 24.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that so far, data from the New York State Unified Court System indicated 51 red flag requests had been filed in Suffolk County Supreme Court as of noon Monday. Twenty of the petitions were pulled though, mostly because a protection order had already prevented the person from having weapons.

In Nassau, that number was far lower — just four petitions, equal to Westchester County, which has about 28 percent fewer people.

No red flag requests were filed in supreme courts in all five New York City boroughs, and just 14 counties statewide logged at least one request.

Lawrence Levy, executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University, told AP the Suffolk figure likely stems from either an aggressive public information campaign or the way the petitions are handled in the system. It could also be that there are more gun owners in exurban and rural areas.

Geraldine Hart, commissioner of Suffolk County police, said that number reflects outreach efforts.