Red-Flag Laws Lead to Gun Grabs

Dozens of people in Oregon and Maryland have had to turn in their guns after requests were filed under those states’ respective red-flag laws, questioning whether someone was likely to present a danger to themselves or others.

The relatively new laws have led to at least 46 gun grabs in Oregon and 36 in Maryland. In the case of Maryland, at least 114 requests for such seizures were filed in the first month since the law took effect, which means the state has approved about one-third of the petitions. The number of requests in Oregon was not available, but The Oregonian reported that more than 50 guns were seized in 46 cases.

The gun control folks stand by the so-called red-flag laws, saying that they give the state a way to reduce the risk of violence being committed with a firearm. They contend that the law skirts the issue of violating the Second Amendment because they are usually just temporary confiscations.

But here’s the thing: what’s to stop someone from abusing the law? Can you imagine breaking up with your significant other, then they turn around and tell officials you’ve got a gun and they’re afraid you might use it because you’re either distraught or angry? And what’s to keep a vehement anti-gunner from just turning in your name on a whim, simply because they know you have a gun.

When you're talking about infringing on the ability to exercise one's Second Amendment freedom, there should well be a higher bar to pass to minimize the risk of tramping on someone's rights wantonly. And they ought to have a right to contest any such request before a decision is handed down arbitrarily.

We also have yet to see how the process of getting your property back works.