SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the launch of GunSafety.ca.gov, a new website that provides critical information and multilingual, culturally competent materials on how Californians can use Gun Violence Restraining Orders to help protect their loved ones when someone poses a threat to themself or others. The website launch coincides with National Gun Violence Awareness Month.
Why it’s important: The website features a newly developed, culturally competent suite of materials on Gun Violence Restraining Orders, including fact sheets and explainers to spread accurate and credible information about this life-saving tool and make it easier for Californians in all our communities to request a Gun Violence Restraining Order. To further promote equitable access to this tool, all of the resources have been trans-created into the eight most commonly spoken languages in California: English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), Vietnamese, Tagalog/Filipino, Korean and Armenian.
The new website and trans-created materials are part of an $11 million statewide campaign, administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, to raise awareness, educate the public and explain the steps required to obtain a Gun Violence Restraining Order. In California, Gun Violence Restraining Orders were used to prevent 58 threatened mass shootings between 2016 and 2019 and have shown immense promise in reducing the incidence of firearm suicide.
“As stewards of this campaign, Cal OES is committed to ensuring equity is at the center of our efforts to raise awareness, improve understanding and increase access to Gun Violence Restraining Orders,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward. “Gun Violence Restraining Orders have been effective in reducing gun violence and firearm suicide.”
“For too long, access to life-saving Gun Violence Restraining Orders has been limited by language, culture and lack of awareness,” said Ruhi Bengali, senior advisor for implementation at Everytown for Gun Safety. “I applaud Governor Gavin Newsom and California for developing a suite of culturally and linguistically competent materials to increase awareness of how this tool can keep communities and individuals safe from firearm tragedies.”
A Gun Violence Restraining Order, or GVRO, is a temporary action taken by a local court when someone is at risk or causing harm to themself or others. The individual in crisis receiving the order cannot purchase or possess firearms or ammunition while the order is in place. These temporary orders empower Californians to intervene, protect the rights of individuals in crisis and are not considered punishment under the law. Californians can learn more about who can file a Gun Violence Restraining Order, how to file and access other resources available at gunsafety.ca.gov.
Key elements of the website include:
- Prevent and Prepare: Tools to help you prevent self-harm and harm to others
- How to Respond: Resources to help Californians stay safe in an active shooter situation
- Survivor Resources: A repository of state resources for survivors of gun violence, including mental health, legal and victim compensation resources
- FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about obtaining a Gun Violence Restraining Order
- Resource Center: Informational materials, in California’s top eight spoken languages, to help Californians prepare, prevent, respond and recover from gun violence
To protect the safety of those reviewing the information housed on the website, the website does not collect any personal information about visitors to the site.
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