Newtown, CT — Yesterday, the New Hampshire House of Representatives heard testimony on proposed legislation to establish Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which would allow family members and law enforcement officers to petition a judge to temporarily separate firearms from an individual who is at risk of harming themselves or someone else.
In response to the testimony, Sandy Hook Promise, a leading national gun violence prevention organization, issued the following statement:
“As we have seen in far too many shootings, when a loved one is in crisis, family members are often the first to see the signs and signals of potential violence. Extreme Risk Protection Orders are a critical tool to stop violence before it can happen because they allow family members and law enforcement to intervene quickly when someone is posing a threat to themselves or others,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise, and father of Daniel who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. “We stand with the brave survivors that shared their grief and pain with the committee — and support the demand for this life-saving legislation, so that no other parent has to endure the senseless loss of a child to gun violence.”
ERPOs have been proven to help avert suicides and other acts of gun violence and have been passed in 14 states. Sandy Hook Promise views ERPOs as a key part of ending the growing number of school shootings and overall epidemic of gun violence in our country.
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About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. SHP’s mission is to prevent gun violence and other forms of violence and victimization BEFORE they can happen by creating a culture of engaged youth and adults committed to identifying, intervening, and getting help for individuals who might be at risk of hurting themselves or others. SHP is a moderate, above-the-politics organization that supports sensible program and policy solutions that address the “human-side” of gun violence by preventing individuals from ever getting to the point of picking up a firearm to hurt themselves or others. Our words, actions and impact nationwide are intended to honor all victims of gun violence by turning our tragedy into a moment of transformation. For more information, visit www.sandyhookpromise.org or call 203-304-9780.