Illinois campaign promotes enforcing ‘gun restraining order’ on those considered an extreme risk
ILLINOIS (KBSI) – A campaign aimed at decreasing gun violence started Thursday in Illinois.
According to the CDC, overall gun violence is up in 2024 and the ‘Pause to Heal Campaign’ Is hoping to combat those numbers.
Illinois Department of Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra says that firearm restraining orders would greatly reduce gun violence.
Data reported by the CDC shows that one of the leading causes of suicide in the US is suicide with a firearm.
Dr. Vohra explains a firearm restraining order.
“Firearm restraining orders save lives, they allow someone in crisis to get the help they need by temporarily removing their access to a weapon that could be used to harm themselves or others,” said Dr. Vohra.
The pause to heal campaign started July 25 in Illinois to promote firearm restraining orders and reduce gun violence. Under a gun violence restraining order those who are considered an extreme threat to themselves, or others would be temporarily blocked from having or purchasing a firearm. Christian Haney is the program officer of Brady, an anti-gun violence organization.
He shares a tragedy he lived through as a result of gun violence.
“And because my parents were there, he turned the gun on them. My dad survived multiple gunshot wounds but my mom died by a single gunshot wound to the back. The last words she’ll ever say in this world were begging for her life.”
Haney says he believes this could’ve been prevented if a firearm restraining order law had been in place back then.
“Had this tool been in place at the time of our shooting our family feels pretty strongly that my mom might still be here today.”
The campaign is designed to prevent firearm suicides and other shootings by educating the public about FRO court orders or extreme risk laws. Extreme risk laws like Illinois FROs allow family and household members to request civil orders that temporarily prevent someone in crisis from purchasing or possessing firearms. FROs are proven to be highly effective, as they allow a person to “hit pause” on a potentially deadly situation and secure the time they need to heal.
