By Redacción
Redaccion@latinocc.com
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the gun violence prevention organization GIFFORDS, hosted the “Safer Together” Gun Violence Restraining Order Symposium at the Ventura County Government Center this week, bringing together prosecutors, law enforcement leaders and community advocates to strengthen efforts to prevent gun violence.
The half-day symposium focused on improving the implementation of Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs), a legal tool that allows courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who are deemed to pose a significant risk of harm to themselves or others.
The event gathered prosecutors, city attorneys, law enforcement officials, mental health professionals and violence prevention advocates to coordinate strategies aimed at improving the use of California’s firearm safety laws.
The symposium comes months after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1344, establishing a pilot program that allows district attorneys in Ventura, Alameda, El Dorado and Santa Clara counties to directly petition courts for GVROs.
Previously, only law enforcement officers, family members, household members and certain others could request these orders.
Under the new law, prosecutors can initiate petitions when evidence indicates that an individual poses a significant danger of causing personal injury through the possession of a firearm.
The bill was authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and sponsored by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.
Irwin said the increasing number of mass shootings involving legally purchased firearms highlights the need for preventive intervention.
“The frequency of mass shootings committed with legally purchased firearms underscores the urgent need to remove firearms from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others,” Irwin said. “The expanded use of Gun Violence Restraining Orders has proven to be an effective tool in addressing this issue.”
Expanding legal tools for prevention
Before AB 1344, only law enforcement officers or people close to an individual could request a GVRO.
The new pilot program allows district attorneys in participating counties to initiate those petitions directly when sufficient evidence indicates a risk of violence.
The program also includes an evaluation component. Participating counties must submit annual reports to the California Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis, which will analyze how the orders are used and their outcomes.
These findings will help determine whether the policy should be expanded statewide.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said the symposium reflects a broader effort to ensure that available legal tools are used effectively.
“This symposium reflects our commitment to using every lawful tool available to prevent firearms violence,” Nasarenko said. “Gun Violence Restraining Orders save lives when they are properly understood and consistently applied.”
Building cross-agency collaboration
Participants also heard presentations from experts on the broader landscape of gun violence prevention in California.
Ari Freilich, director of the California Department of Justice Office of Gun Violence Prevention, provided an overview of firearm violence trends and the role of restraining orders in both civil and criminal contexts.
A panel featuring representatives from the district attorney’s office, the California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms and crisis intervention professionals examined gaps in the current system and discussed how the new law could address them.
Ethan Murray, a state policy attorney for GIFFORDS, said the pilot program will help prevent tragedies.
“Gun violence restraining orders are simple, commonsense laws that save countless lives and protect entire communities from the tragedy and pain of gun violence,” Murray said.
The symposium concluded with an audience discussion moderated by the Judicial Council of California, focusing on implementation challenges and opportunities for collaboration among agencies.
Organizers said the event was designed to strengthen communication among institutions and ensure Ventura County remains at the forefront of coordinated gun violence prevention efforts.
