WASHINGTON – Annie Kuster (NH-02) voted for H.R. 2377, the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021. This legislation authorizes and establishes procedures for federal courts to issue extreme risk protection orders, often referred to as ‘Red Flag’ laws. This key bill would allow family members and law enforcement officers to petition a federal court for an extreme risk protection order – if the court deems an individual a danger to themself or others, that person would temporarily be prevented from legally accessing firearms.

“Our nation has been shaken by the horror and heartbreak of mass shootings time and again, and yet, Congressional Republicans have continued to block overwhelmingly popular and common-sense measures to address gun violence and prevent future tragedies,” said Rep. Kuster. “Enough is enough. Today, I voted for legislation to keep guns out of the hands of individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others in order to prevent them from doing harm. I urge the Senate to immediately take up this legislation and the Protecting Our Kids Act passed by the House yesterday to save lives and stop the cycle of gun violence plaguing our communities.”

Kuster cosponsored provisions of this legislation, including the creation of a new grant program at the U.S. Department of Justice to encourage more states to adopt protection order laws and to support the 19 states that have already implemented them. The two gun safety packages passed this week are in addition to the common-sense measures passed in the House last year, including the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 and legislation to close the “Charleston Loophole.”

According to a study done by the gun safety organization Everytown, in 51% of mass shootings from 2005 to 2017, the attacker exhibited warning signs. H.R. 2377 combines the provisions of the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, as introduced by Rep. Lucy McBath, and the provisions of H.R. 3480, the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, as introduced by Rep. Carbajal (D-CA). Rep. Kuster was a cosponsor of H.R. 3480.

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