top of page

August 11, 2021

GARNETT, SULLIVAN REACT TO ERPO IMPLEMENTATION REPORT

DENVER, CO– The Colorado Department of Law today released a report on implementation of the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Law, recommending continued education and outreach on how individuals can appropriately use it to help prevent gun violence. Speaker Alec Garnett and Representative Tom Sullivan, sponsors of the original bill, released the following statements.

“The ERPO law was designed to save lives, and that’s exactly what it’s done in the year and a half since it took effect,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Today’s report confirms that the law is working as intended. Primarily employed by law enforcement officers, the protection orders allowed under ERPO have protected Coloradans from intimate partner violence, helped to prevent mass shootings, and have been used as a tool to intervene when suicide is threatened. I’m proud of the lives we’ve saved and look forward to continuing to monitor the progress of this law.”

“Opponents of gun violence prevention laws often seek to slow down our progress by claiming that nothing can be done about the gun violence crisis in America,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “Today’s report shows we are making change and saving lives. I’m proud to see so many police departments across the state use ERPO as a tool for their service to the community. It is my sincere hope that other departments will see the data presented today and take it as an opportunity to learn more about how they can also use the law to save lives. As the report highlights, the next major step we must take is to improve education and awareness around gun violence prevention, which is exactly what the newly created Office of Gun Violence Prevention is designed to do.”

bottom of page