OAN’s Brooke Mallory
4:42 PM – Thursday, March 28, 2024
The Biden administration’s just-announced National Emergency Risk Protection Order Resource Center was the subject of an investigation Thursday morning at the direction of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
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On Saturday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced the opening of the center and $750 million in funding earmarked for it.
Attorney General Merrick Garland highly praised the center’s launch.
“The launch of the National Emergency Risk Protection Order Resource Center will provide partners across the country with a valuable resource to help keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others. ’s establishment is the latest example of the Department of Justice’s efforts to leverage all the tools provided by the landmark bipartisan Safe Neighborhoods Act to protect communities from gun violence,” Merrick said.
But Cassandra Krifasi and Joshua Horwitz, co-founders of the John Hopkins Gun Violence Solutions Center, received a letter from Rep. Jordan on Thursday.
“The Judiciary Committee provides oversight of Department of Justice (DOJ) grant programs and operations, including the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). BJA “supports the effective implementation of state red flag laws.” We are aware that we have awarded taxpayer-funded grants to operate the National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center. “The committee has serious concerns about the violation of due process and Second Amendment rights enabled by red flag laws and extreme risk protection order laws,” Jordan’s letter said. .
In his letter, Jordan highlighted a number of issues with the Red Flag Act, including the dangers it poses to due process.
“These laws are ripe for abuse because the list of individuals who can petition the courts for extreme jeopardy protection is vast. For example, in Hawaii, former roommates and disgruntled employees But you can file for an extreme risk protection order. In California, a former roommate, employee, ex-girlfriend, or even someone who is in a “dating relationship” with the individual can file for an extreme risk protection order. be able to. Additionally, many jurisdictions require only that a showing of probable cause be met in order to seize an individual’s firearms or ammunition and prohibit that individual from purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition. A likely cause is the shockingly low standard of depriving individuals of their constitutional rights without allegations of criminal conduct or opportunity for an individual’s trial. “Currently, 15 states have enacted laws that use this lower standard to grant extreme risk protection orders,” the letter continued.
Jordan then listed questions that must be answered by April 11th.th2024, 5pm:
- A description of how funds already distributed to jurisdictions are ensured “in accordance with constitutional and due process safeguards.” [set forward in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act]”
- An explanation of how Mr. Krifasi and Mr. Horowitz’s firm “complies with the provisions of the law requiring ‘penalties for misuse of programs.'”
- “All documents and communications after June 25thth, 2022 between staff members of the Executive Office of the President and staff of the Johns Hopkins Center for Resolving Gun Violence to make a statement that references or relates to the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center. ”
- “All documents and communications after June 25thth, in 2022 between Department of Justice officials and Johns Hopkins Gun Violence Prevention Center officials that refer to or relate to the National Emergency Risk Protection Order Resource Center. ”
Mr. Jordan also noted that materials submitted by Mr. Krifasi and Mr. Horoutis include John Hopkins University’s fiscal year 2022 grant proposal, which calls for extreme risk protection orders and funding for the Firearms Crisis Intervention Training and Technical Assistance Institute. It also clarified that records related to this must be included.
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