Adams on Red Flag Laws

K. Alexander Adams (University of Wyoming College of Law - Firearms Research Center) has posted The Impact of Extreme Risk Protection Orders on Homicide and Suicide: Are there Any Red Flags? on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

 

Nineteen states have instituted Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws, also known as red flag laws. These laws allow law enforcement, family members, and others to petition courts to temporarily remove firearms from an individual who is believed to be a danger to themselves or others. These laws have been passed with the goal of reducing firearm homicide and firearm suicide. This paper tests whether these laws save lives using a generalized synthetic control model. This preliminary study suggests ERPOs as currently written do not significantly reduce total homicide or total suicide nor firearm homicide or firearm suicide.