Walk the Talk America is dedicated to bridging the gap between mental health and responsible firearm ownership. Because of this, we can not support Red Flag or Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO).
Why?
While ERPOs vary from state to state and are often presented in best case scenarios, they often have concerning themes that are less talked about, and we simply can’t support them.
- Burdens of proof to remove one’s firearms do not align with restoring rights for that individual.
- We’ve gotten feedback from our surveys that ERPOs discourage gun owners from seeking mental health care, even for minor issues they’re experiencing, like stress.
- First responders have reported that while mental health resources are often available to them, they aren’t a viable option as they may risk their ability to provide for their loved ones.
Walk the Talk America is very aware of the suicide by firearm issue that everyone wants to address to save lives. However, we have different solutions in mind:
- Providing liability insurance breaks for gun ranges and shops that will store firearms for individuals who want a safe place to store them temporarily.
- Promote responsible storage that makes quick access safes and other secure storage options more affordable via rebates or other programs.
- Remove liability from gun shops, gun ranges, or private parties from giving a gun back “too soon”
- Make preventative mental healthcare something insurance covers for annual or biannual checkups
- Create partnerships with mental health providers who want to help gun owners