Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Launch ERPO.org: A Hub for Extreme Risk Protection Order Resources

The Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has launched the National ERPO Resource Center website, a comprehensive online resource dedicated to supporting the implementation of Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws across the United States. The ERPO.org website officially launched March 23, 2024. 

Vice President Kamala Harris announced the new resource at a press conference at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the site of a mass shooting that left 17 people dead on February 14, 2018. 

With ERPO laws enacted in 21 states and the District of Columbia, ERPO.org will serve as a vital tool for law enforcement, policymakers, medical professionals, and concerned citizens nationwide. 

ERPO.org is part of a four-year, $2 million cooperative agreement between the Center for Gun Violence Solutions and the Department of Justice aimed at providing training and technical assistance for courts, law enforcement, victims of crimes, and others for ERPO implementation. This grant underscores the federal government's commitment to evidence-based gun violence prevention initiatives, as articulated in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed into law by President Biden in June 2022. 

ERPOs are a civil court order that temporarily restricts firearm access for an individual at high risk of harm to self or others. By authorizing the temporary removal of firearms and prohibiting the individual from purchasing or accessing guns while the order is in effect, ERPOs provide a critical opportunity to intervene to prevent gun violence, including mass shootings, homicides, and suicides.  

“ERPO laws represent real progress against the public health epidemic of gun violence,” says Shannon Frattaroli, PhD '99, MPH '94, professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We’ve studied how these laws are being used and the impacts to date are promising.”  

Led by the Center for Gun Violence Solutions’ Lisa Geller, MPH, and Spencer Cantrell, JD, in collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National ERPO Resource Center aims to bridge gaps in ERPO implementation, ensuring equitable, efficient, and effective use of these laws to save lives.  

"A dedicated website for training and technical assistance will ensure state and local officials know how to properly implement ERPO programs to reduce gun violence and save lives. An Extreme Risk Protection Order will not implement itself, so it’s critical that we provide professionals, policymakers, and the public with the resources they need to support implementation,” says Geller, senior advisor for implementation at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

ERPO.org will offer original and curated resources, including specific information about each state’s ERPO law, ERPO toolkits, implementation guides, a training and technical assistance request form, and a calendar of events designed to support states to implement their ERPO laws.  

"These resources are critical to ensure people on the front lines are implementing ERPO laws correctly while prioritizing public health and equity,” says Cantrell, senior advisor for implementation at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.  

ERPO.org is a first-of-its-kind resource and represents a significant step forward in the national effort to prevent gun violence and promote public safety.  

"ERPO.org is not just a website; it's a critical resource for communities across the nation,” says Josh Horwitz, JD, Co-Director of the Center for Gun Violence Solutions. “By providing accessible resources and guidance, we empower every individual to play a role in preventing gun violence. Together, we can make ERPOs a cornerstone of public safety, ensuring a safer tomorrow for all.”