Dear John,

Present and available guns make every scenario more deadly, but we can stop this.

Red Flag laws, also called Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), are vital tools in preventing mass gun violence and gun-related suicide – but currently, only 19 states and DC have these laws on the books, and three-quarters of them are less than five years old. New laws take time to implement and need innovations and early investments to ensure their long-term success.

That is why I am fighting to expand assistance for filing ERPOs by providing legal, translation, and other services for individuals’ petitions through the FLAG Act and Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act.

A majority of Democrats, Republicans, and even gun owners overwhelmingly support the implementation and enforcement of Red Flag Laws, but we face an uphill battle in the House, as our Republican members refuse to stand up to the NRA in order to represent the interests of their constituents.

Red Flag laws allow select individuals to file emergency petitions to temporarily restrict a close friend, family, or community member from owning or purchasing a gun when exhibiting threatening and dangerous behavior. While early research into these laws’ effectiveness shows their success in lowering gun-related suicides and identifying real warnings of mass shootings, states have also experienced hurdles in adopting these laws – primarily around the confusing process of correctly filing the petition’s paperwork.

When a petitioner is outside of government, does not have access to a lawyer, and is not proficient in English, their petition is more likely to be denied – but the threats are just as real. The FLAG and Language Access Acts will give states the funds they need to address these issues.

We need to keep and expand the number of Congressmembers in Washington, DC who will push to expand our gun-reform measures and protect people across the country from gun violence. Simply put, to expand gun reform, we need to hold and add to our Democratic seats to win back the House in 2024.

Gun violence is preventable, and as long as I remain in Congress, I will continue to fight for gun reform.

Judy