California will be the fist state of the USA to allow its citizens to seek seizure of their family members’ guns by the authorities if they suspect them to represent a threat to themselves or their fellow citizens. The measure was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on Tuesday. The new law will allow not just government officials, but also family members and some other individuals to seek orders restraining gun ownership from a judge. The order will then authorize officials to temporary confiscate any firearm owned by a potentially violent or dangerous person, and place them on a list of individuals prohibited from acquiring any weapons.
Nancy Skinner, the California assemblywoman who has sponsored this law, considers this measure to be a very effective tool not just to law enforcement, but also to families, allowing them to intervene before a tragic event occurs. This puts the state of California in the leadership on efforts to stop gun violence, Skinner said. Authorities of several US states allow their law enforcement officials to confiscate firearms from individuals considered a threat, but California is the first one to extend the list of persons able to do this to family members of the person as well. Such a measure is considered crucial in preventing suicides and mass shootings according to gun control advocates in the country.
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The new law was introduced in direct response to an unfortunate and tragic incident – a shooting in Isla Vista, California, that happened this May. On May 22nd a 22 year old college student has killed six people and wounded 13 more. The student has previously published videos expressing his rage against women who rejected him repeatedly. The perpetrator, 22 year old Elliot O. Rodger, was later found in his own car with a self-inflicted bullet wound in his head. Such tragedies can be prevented by the family members of these individuals, the first ones to observe changes in their behavior. Now, when they see a dangerous situation, they can ask for the authorities to act, possibly preventing serious bloodshed and gun violence.