Image by Jason Gillman from Pixabay 

October 21, 2023 - Highlighting the critical role gun safety measures play to keep Californians safe during October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) reminds Californians of the tools available to prevent gun violence.

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month recognizes survivors and raises awareness about the devastating impacts of domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship where violence is used to gain or maintain control over someone else.

California has implemented the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, including temporary Gun Violence Restraining Orders, to prevent self-harm and harm to others. Cal OES is working with partners to address the gun violence epidemic in California, educating communities about the state’s potentially life-saving GVRO law. This law can be used to temporarily remove guns from individuals in crisis and prohibits them from purchasing a firearm once a GVRO has been approved by a court.

Californians who are concerned that someone is a risk to themselves or others and has access to a gun may apply for a Gun Violence Restraining Order. To see more in language, culturally competent resources, visit GunSafety.ca.gov.

In the first three years of California’s law, officials used it to remove guns from 58 people who threatened to commit mass shootings, according to a study recently released by the Violence Prevention Research Program. Previous research into similar laws in Indiana and Connecticut demonstrated that so-called red flag laws can also be an effective tool in reducing firearm suicide.

About the GVRO Campaign

As gun violence surges across the nation, Governor Gavin Newsom made historic investments to focus on outreach and education about California’s gun violence restraining order law to communities and populations most at risk.

This $11 million campaign includes recognized leaders in the gun violence prevention community movement:

• $5 million in grants to local community-based domestic violence groups for community outreach.
• $5 million for statewide outreach to communities most at risk of gun violence including education efforts, research and multilingual outreach.
• $1 million for education and training for city attorney offices and law enforcement groups.
  Source: Cal OES