A Gun Violence Restraining Order, or GVRO, is a law that was approved by the State of California in 2016. The GVRO allows family members, household members, some employers, colleagues, teachers, and law enforcement to take action to prevent a person who poses a significant risk of harming themselves or others from having or purchasing a gun, ammunition, or magazine for a specified length of time, between 21 days and five years.
Click ESC or this button to quick exit ? Safe Esc/Leave Site 1. Who can request a GVRO?
The accompanying video explains the process for obtaining a GVRO.
Sometimes, we may know someone, or come into contact with people who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others with a gun. You should know what options you have to temporarily remove firearms and prohibit future guns purchases with a GVRO, or by using another legal tool.
Access to a gun can make a temporary condition lethal and tragic.
1 Conner, Andrew, Deborah Azrael, and Matthew Miller. "Suicide case-fatality rates in the United States, 2007 to 2014: a nationwide population-based study." Annals of internal medicine 171.12 (2019): 885-895.
When someone close to us is going through a challenging time, that person may display certain behavior that can alert us that they may be thinking about hurting themselves or others.
Note: If you are in immediate danger, please contact local law enforcement or dial 911.
Additionally, anyone in emotional crisis can call the National Suicide Hotline
24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255
National Resource to assist anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress through comprehensive online resources or lifeline support
Telephone: 988 (24/7 English | Espa�ol)
800-799-4889 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing)
Visit Chat/Website
Text-based mental health support and crisis intervention
Text:"HOME" to 741741
(Text "HEARME" to 839863 for Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing)
To learn more about mental health resources and support visit: www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ovp/SuicidePrevention
Like any legal tool, a GVRO is not always going to be the right fit for every person and every circumstance.
Research and community feedback reveal that GVROs can pose the risk of further exposing Black and Brown individuals to increased criminal justice scrutiny or exposure of anyone requesting an order to retaliatory violence.
Due to structural and historical racism, a GVRO could lead to the further criminalization of Black and Brown communities. For example, if the subject of a GVRO has guns that are illegal, they might be arrested, fined, and/or charged for possession of illegal firearms.
The person requesting the GVRO must be named on the order, therefore making their identity known to the subject and potentially putting them at risk for retaliatory violence. Which is why it is important that the right tool is used for the right situation.
A GVRO requires that all firearms and ammunition be relinquished by the subject of the order, and prohibits the subject of the order from purchasing any guns or ammunition while the order is in effect.
What can�t a GVRO do?A GVRO only requires the relinquishment of guns and ammunition; it does not have an impact on any other weapons, such as knives.
A GVRO doesn�t require the subject of the order to stay away from the person requesting the GVRO. Other types of orders can be used if personal protection from the subject of the order is needed.
How can a GVRO keep people safe?The GVRO provides an opportunity to remove guns from individuals who would not otherwise be prohibited from possessing firearms. GVROs can be requested by those with a close relationship to the subject of the order � family, household members, co-workers, school staff; people in these relationships are likely to recognize when a person is facing a crisis. Removing a person�s guns while they are dealing with a temporary crisis reduces the risk of lethal behavior and provides them with time to seek help.
Who can request a GVRO?One of the most important differences between a GVRO and a DVRO is that with a GVRO there is no protected party. What this means is that a GVRO can only remove firearms from the situation. A DVRO has more requirements for the subject of the order. For example, the subject of the order may be required stay away from the petitioner or participate in counseling treatment. On the other hand, a GVRO only requires that the subject hands in their firearms and ammunition and/or prevents them from buying firearms and ammunition.
Another difference is the eligibility. Those eligible to file a DVRO is more limited than a GVRO. The goal of a DVRO is to protect victims of domestic violence and so those who can file for one are limited to having some dating relationship to the subject. A GVRO has a broader field for who can file.
It is important to be aware of what different protective orders exist so that you can understand which is the right fit for you and your circumstances.
