These statutes have a certain appeal to those drawn to the simple cause of doing “something” in the wake of increasing violent crime. But considering the glaring weakness in due process rights afforded the gun owner, how are they put into force?
According to journalistic outlet Bridge Michigan, state law enforcement officials have serious concerns about the implementation of “red flag” gun laws. These are set to take effect next spring.
One official questioned about enforcement is Robert Stevenson, executive director of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.
He concurred with the concern over keeping weapons away from those who are not “balanced” enough to responsibly possess them. However, the actual act of enforcement of the laws raised serious questions.
“What happens if the person with the order tries to hurt the officers? What if the person who was deemed suicidal becomes overwhelmed and still poses harm to themselves when their guns are being seized?” What if the individual with an order has to be detained by force or even killed, due to the threat they pose?”
And how does this affect the person who requested the “red flag” order? Stevenson said they had tried to protect a loved one only to see them get killed.
The National Rifle Association noted the case of 61-year-old Gary J. Willis, an African American man from Anne Arundel, Maryland. In 2018, officials went to retrieve his firearm under a red flag order. Unfortunately, the situation escalated quickly until he was shot five times by officers after reaching for the weapon he was supposed to surrender.
Serious questions about serious encounters are raised by law enforcement, and they must be taken into consideration in passing new gun control measures.
