Traci Murphy is the executive director of the Coalition for a Safer Delaware.
Recently, a Milford-area nurse practitioner and mom was killed by her husband, who then turned the gun on himself, leaving two children without their parents and a community scrambling to react, offer support and manage trauma and grief.
This is not the first time a tragedy like this has occurred in Delaware — but, if more families knew about lethal violence protective orders, maybe it could be the last.
An extreme-risk protection order — often called a red flag law and known in Delaware as a lethal violence protective order — is a civil court order that temporarily restricts firearm access for people who are behaving dangerously or are at high risk of harming themselves or others.
Here is what these orders are not: They are not criminal orders, no one is arrested, no one is handcuffed, and no one gets a criminal record. The firearm — not the person — is removed from the home. When the crisis passes, a court hearing determines whether the firearm can be returned. These orders give a person in crisis the one thing they need most: time.
Yet many Delaware families have never heard of it. A law can only save lives if people know it exists. In Delaware, the process is straightforward: A person in crisis or their loved one contacts local law enforcement and requests an LVPO; if appropriate, firearms are temporarily removed and stored safely, and a hearing is held within 15 days.
It is one of the most loving and protective acts a family member can take.
Delaware passed this law in 2018, with 100% of the General Assembly voting yes — it doesn’t get more bipartisan than that.
Spread the word about LVPOs. Talk about this tool at your kitchen table and your place of worship, and with your friends and family. Someone in your life may one day face a crisis, and what they know could save a life. A temporary crisis does not have to lead to a permanent tragedy.
It’s too late for Jessica Bradley and her children, but this is a lifesaving policy that everyone should know about.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to reach free, confidential support 24/7.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
