August 16, 2019
For immediate release

GOA to Congress: Ten Times “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders Would Have Not Prevented Mass Shootings

Springfield, VA — Gun Owners of America (GOA) today sent a letter to every member of Congress detailing ten examples of how “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders have failed to stop mass shootings.

“’Red Flag’ Gun Confiscation Orders (GCOs), also known as Extreme Risk Protection Orders, are an objectively ineffective proposal in the wake of mass public shootings… [they] don’t reduce crime, don’t reduce suicides, don’t reduce murders, and don’t reduce mass murders,” Aidan Johnston, GOA’s Director of Federal Affairs, stated.

GOA’s letter then goes on to show how states with existing GCOs failed to stop mass killers, like the San Bernardino, California shooting in 2015. “[D]espite a 2014 GCO law, authorities ignored ‘red flags’ like inclinations to jihad, martyrdom, and contact with terrorist recruiters.”

Furthermore, the letter exposes that certain mass killers never exhibited “red flag” behavior. “[N]ot only has [Texas] Governor Abbott stated there were no ‘red flags’ in the life of the [2018 Santa Fe] school shooter, but the killer stole his weapons—meaning he would have evaded any gun control background check or ‘Red Flag’ law designed to disarm him.”

Instead of bribing states to pass “Red Flag” GCOs, GOA urges Congress to expand firearm freedoms by passing Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity, like Congressman Richard Hudson’s H.R. 38 to allow law-abiding citizens to carry weapons, and to Repeal Gun-Free School Zones, like Congressman Thomas Massie’s H.R. 3200.

This letter was sent in conjunction with a massive grassroots effort coordinated by Gun Owners of America. Since the tragic shootings in El Paso and Dayton, GOA’s activists and members have generated over 2 million letters to Senate Republicans and President Trump opposing GCOs and other gun control.

The letter can be viewed here. Gun Owners of America and our members will continue to apply grassroots pressure to Washington DC by sending a clear, “no compromise” message to legislators.

GOA spokespeople are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.