(FARGO) – There’s a bill in the North Dakota legislature that supporters say would keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.
The “Public Safety Protection Order Bill” allows law enforcement or family members to petition a court to temporarily ban someone considered a danger to themselves or others from possessing guns.
The main sponsor is Democratic Rep. Karla Rose Hanson of Fargo. “Because a suicidal person may have to wait to get their initial behavioral health services…a public safety protection order can put some time and distance between that person and lethal means while they get stable” Hanson said.
The bill is supported by West Fargo Police Chief Heith Janke. “We need to provide the right tools to be pro-active in preventing these deaths” Janke said. This bill provides an additional tool to hopefully save more lives and prevent more statistics from being made.”
“Nobody wants dangerous people to have access to firearms which is why the NRA supports risk protection orders that respects the due process of rights and ensures those found mentally ill receive the care they need. Most of the red flag laws passed last year, unfortunately, do none of that,” according to National Rifle Association’s Catherine Mortensen.
“Not only do they fail to provide any sort of mental health treatment but they allow the state to deny law-abiding gun owners their due process of rights. If the state can deny due process to these law-abiding residents then what’s to stop them from denying any right to any group of people?”
The bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
