Seattle police seize gun using method Gov. Inslee touted at White House
Mar 5, 2018, 9:40 AM | Updated: 3:40 pm
The handgun Seattle police seized from a man after an Extreme Risk Protection Order was issued. (Seattle PD)
(Seattle PD)
Seattle police seized a man’s handgun using the system that Gov. Jay Inslee encouraged President Donald Trump to use as a model for the rest of the nation.
Seattle school district declares opposition to arming teachers
The police department became the first in Washington state to serve an Extreme Risk Protection Order on a man whose “escalating behavior” resulted in multiple calls, according to SPD. In one recent incident, restaurant staff called police because the man was allegedly harassing them while carrying a holstered gun.
“Due to his numerous contact with police … SPD’s Crisis Response Square filed for an Extreme Risk Protection order, requiring the man to turn over all firearms,” the department wrote in a statement.
Failing to turn the gun himself, police obtained a warrant, took the man into custody and seized a .25 caliber handgun from his apartment. Police continue to work on seizing “several other firearms” the man owns, which are in possession of a family member.
What is the order police used?
The Extreme Risk Protection Order allows family members or officers to ask a judge for permission to confiscate firearms from someone they believe poses a danger to themselves or others.
During a meeting with governors from across the country, Inslee told President Trump the order would be a better step to preventing gun violence in schools than arming teachers. The idea resurfaced after the Feb. 14 massacre at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.
When a firearm is seized through the protection order, the owner can only recover it if order is terminated or expires, and if that owner passes a background check.
Meanwhile, pro-gun advocates continue the push to arm teachers or school staff. A recent poll found 59 percent of Americans oppose the idea. However, 68 percent of Republicans support the idea — more than 80 percent of Democrats oppose the idea.
