Westchester DA Urges NY Lawmakers To Pass 'Red Flag' Gun Law

New York State could be the first in the nation to create a "Red Flag" law — a law allowing "extreme risk protection orders" that could prevent people in crisis and at risk of deadly consequences from purchasing or possessing any type of firearm, including hand guns, rifles, or shotguns.

While some states are considering arming teachers, some New Yorkers want to empower them, plus police officers, family members, school administrators and district attorneys, to prevent school shootings by pursuing court intervention.

"We're 22 weeks into 2018, there's been 23 schools shootings in 22 weeks," said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo at a press conference Tuesday to promote the law along with Aalayah Eastmond, one of the survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. "Just think about that. It's become a chronic problem, a problem that is all across this country and the frequency and regularity is truly disturbing."

State lawmakers Sandra Galef, David Buchwald, Amy Paulin, Ken Zebrowski, Ellen Jaffee and Tom Abinanti are among the local sponsors of the extreme risk protection order bill in the Assembly.

Cuomo admitted that the law is unlikely to get through the Republican-dominated state Senate, the New York Post reported.

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. reiterated Wednesday his earlier statement urging the state legislature to pass the law. “Enacting ERPO legislation may save more lives by stopping potential offenders in crisis from committing acts of violence — acts that may be wholly preventable by allowing law enforcement to take weapons out of their hands before a tragedy occurs."

Image via Shutterstock

SEE ALSO:

• Florida School Shooting: Sheriff Says 17 Dead | Boca Raton, FL Patch
• Texas School Shooting: A Personal Perspective | Houston, TX Patch