red flag law
noun
variants
or red-flag law
plural red flag laws or red-flag laws
US
: a law allowing courts to prevent people who show signs of being a danger to themselves or to others from having access to firearms (as by ordering the seizure of weapons)
In the wake of massacres similar to Wednesday's school shooting in Parkland, Fla., a small number of states have passed "red flag laws" that allow the seizure of guns before people can commit acts of violence. … Mental illness, escalating threats, substance abuse and domestic violence are among the circumstances in which a judge can order weapon restrictions under the statutes.—
Lenny Bernstein
Lenny BernsteinThe way red-flag laws work is straightforward. After hearing a petition from a family member or a law-enforcement officer with knowledge that someone is a credible danger to themselves or others, a judge can issue an order allowing for the temporary seizure of firearms belonging to that individual.—Scott Sexton
Scott SextonExamples of red flag law in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Since IndyStar began reporting on problems with the red flag law: More than 90% of Indianapolis police gun seizures have resulted in red flag court filings, as opposed to just 36% previously.
—Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Feb. 2023
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Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Feb. 2023
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“Red flag law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20flag%20law. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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