By Redacción
Redaccion@latinocc.com
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko testified this week before the California State Senate Public Safety Committee in support of Assembly Bill 1344 (AB 1344), legislation aimed at expanding the use of Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs), commonly known as Red Flag Laws.
The bill, authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, would allow district attorneys to directly petition courts for GVROs, empowering them to temporarily prevent individuals deemed dangerous from accessing firearms.
“When an individual is in distress and at risk of harming themselves or others, petitioners can go into court and seek a gun violence restraining order,” Nasarenko told lawmakers. “District Attorneys are best positioned because of our courtroom knowledge and where we sit to bring forward these life-saving measures.”
Unanimous Support in Committee
AB 1344 passed unanimously in the Senate Public Safety Committee following testimony from Nasarenko and Ethan Murray, representative of the Giffords Law Center, the national gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
“AB 1344 strikes the correct balance,” said Murray. “It proposes a focused, data-driven pilot program to evaluate the impact of DA involvement without undermining civil liberties or due process.”
The bill originally proposed a pilot program limited to Ventura and El Dorado counties, but an amendment has expanded it to include Alameda and Santa Clara, significantly increasing the measure’s scope.
Assemblymember Irwin noted that although California already allows law enforcement, family members, and others to request GVROs, usage rates remain low. She has long advocated for giving district attorneys the authority to file petitions directly.
If passed, AB 1344 would require annual reporting to the California Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis beginning in 2027. These reports will help evaluate the program’s effectiveness and inform future gun safety policies.
AB 1344 now advances to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further review.
