Washington, DC – Today, Ranking Member Lucy McBath (GA-06) is announcing the re-introduction of the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2026 (FERPO). As the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, McBath has continued to lead common-sense gun safety legislation and encourage bipartisan support for the issue.
“Too often in cases of mass shootings, someone had prior knowledge of the shooter’s plan. Extreme risk protection orders are already saving lives in Republican and Democratic states, allowing law enforcement and family members to intervene before it’s too late,” said Rep. McBath. “My bill will expand these protections from coast to coast and give every American another tool to keep their communities safe.”
Extreme risk protection laws are meant to protect citizens and empower law enforcement by ensuring that those who pose a threat to themselves or others do not have access to firearms. Currently, 22 states and the District of Columbia have enacted extreme risk laws to allow law enforcement adequate time to respond to warning signs of a planned shooting or suicide. The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2026 would ensure nationwide access to this important gun violence prevention measure. This legislation was first introduced by McBath in 2019 as a companion to bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate during the 115th Congress.
H.R.2377, FERPO 2022, previously saw success in the 118th Congress, when it passed the House floor with a vote of 224-202, including support from 5 Republican members. A portion of it was also included in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to afford grants to states that have established Extreme Risk Protection Orders.
This legislation is supported by Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords, Brady United Against Gun Violence, Newtown Action Alliance, and Junior Newtown Action Alliance.
“When someone shows clear warning signs of harming themselves or others, extreme risk protection orders give families and law enforcement a legal way to act before it's too late,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “These laws have strong bipartisan support in the states where they're saving lives every day, and we're grateful to Rep. McBath for her continued leadership in championing them nationwide.”
“When an individual is experiencing a mental health crisis, access to firearms can turn a serious situation into a tragedy. Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) save lives by providing law enforcement and those closest to an at-risk individual a legal pathway to temporarily remove firearms from a dangerous equation. The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2026 would expand access to this lifesaving tool by allowing family, household members, and law enforcement officers to obtain ERPOs from federal courts. Brady is grateful to Representative McBath for introducing this lifesaving legislation and for her dedication to ending the gun violence epidemic,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy, Brady.
“As someone from the Sandy Hook community who has seen—up close—what happens when clear warning signs are met with inaction, I know how urgently we need this bill. Rep. McBath’s Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act gives families and law enforcement a critical, life-saving tool to intervene before a moment of crisis turns into another funeral. We cannot keep allowing preventable tragedies to devastate families and communities. Congress must urgently pass this bill now to save lives,” said Po Murray, Chairwoman, Newtown Action Alliance.
“Too often, the warning signs of potential acts of gun violence are there, but the tools to act are not,” said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown. “The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Orders Act creates a careful, temporary process to step in when someone is in crisis, preventing irreversible harm while respecting rights and due process. Congress should pass this bill because it can help save lives, especially when timing matters most.”