For more information about what data is available for request, click here.
Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs)
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.
The following individuals can petition the court to temporarily remove guns and ammunition from, and prohibit the purchase of guns and ammunition by, an individual who poses a significant risk of harm to themselves or others:
Family Members
Household members/roommates
Some employers, colleagues, teachers/school staff
People involved in a dating relationship
People who have a child together
Law enforcement
There are 4 main steps to filing for a GVRO:
Fill out the court papers and prepare to file
File the papers with the court
Receive the papers back from the court
Have the GVRO served to the prohibited person
Legal aid organizations that can help you file a GVRO:
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles seeks to achieve equal justice for people living in poverty across Greater Los Angeles.
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA)
Through a combination of individual representation, high impact litigation and public policy advocacy, NLSLA combats the immediate and long-lasting effects of poverty and expands access to health, opportunity, and justice in Los Angeles’ diverse neighborhoods.
The accompanying video explains the process for obtaining a GVRO.
California's Gun Violence Restraining Order by Speak for Safety (English)
California's Gun Violence Restraining Order by Speak for Safety (Spanish)
Warning Signs
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.
90% of suicide attempts with a gun are fatal, while 4% of those not involving a gun are fatal.1
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.
Californians living with handgun owners are more than 2 times more likely to die by homicide.2
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.
Common Signs of Suicide
Giving away personal possessions
Talking as if saying goodbye or going away forever
Taking steps to tie up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
Making or changing a will
Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
Saying things like “Nothing matters anymore,” “You’ll be better off without me”
Withdrawing from friends, family, and normal activities
If you or someone you care about is showing any of the above signs, there is help available.
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
Resources
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
National Resource to assist anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress through comprehensive online resources or lifeline support
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.
Petitioner: A person who files the protective order
Subject or Prohibited Person: The person who the protective order is against
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.
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.
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.
The following individuals can petition the court to temporarily remove guns and ammunition from, and prohibit the purchase of guns and ammunition by, an individual who poses a significant risk of harm to themselves or others:
Family Members
Household members/roommates
Some employers, colleagues, teachers/school staff
People involved in a dating relationship
People who have a child together
Law enforcement
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.
GVRO Data
As the data here show, GVROs are not often used in Los Angeles County. In particular, GVROs requested by non-law enforcement petitioners are extremely uncommon. We hope that with an awareness campaign, GVROs will be used more frequently as a valuable tool to protect Los Angeles County residents from gun violence. Please check back in the future as we will continue to share data updates on this page.
Between 2016 and 2022, 266 GVROs were issued in LA County.
Law enforcement requested 252 (95%) of the GVROs.
Number of Gun Violence Restraining Orders Issued in Los Angeles County by Type of Requestor, 2016-2022
* Other types of requestors include family members, roommates, dating partners, employers/coworkers, and school employees.
Data Source: California Department of Justice. 2016-2022 Gun Violence Restraining Order Data. Available online: https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/data. Accessed 8/1/2023.
Acknowledgements
The Office of Violence Prevention would like to acknowledge the following entities, who have provided guidance. We are grateful for their partnership, expertise, and resources.
