The origins of California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order law
An analysis using Kingdon’s Multiple Streams framework
Quick Summary
- Findings suggest that policymakers and advocates for firearm violence prevention should prepare extensively, develop bills early, and cultivate and leverage relationships among policy entrepreneurs.
- Further, they must engage diverse groups of stakeholders, recruit advocates affected by gun violence and those familiar with gaps in current law, anticipate long campaigns, and be prepared to take advantage of unexpected opportunities.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Firearm violence is a major public health problem in the United States, yet most states lack a mechanism to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who are at high and imminent risk of harming themselves or others and are not otherwise prohibited. Extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws are intended to close this gap. The current study examines the passage of California’s gun violence restraining order (GVRO) bill using Kingdon’s multiple streams framework.
METHODS
This study was based on an analysis of interview data from six key informants involved in the passage of the GVRO legislation.
RESULTS
Findings indicate policy entrepreneurs framed the problem and designed the policy to target individuals at behavioral risk of imminent firearm violence. Policy entrepreneurs comprised an integrated policy network that engaged in a lengthy period of collaboration and bargained with interest groups to yield a bill that satisfied diverse concerns.
CONCLUSIONS
This case study may inform efforts in other states to pass ERPO policies and other firearm safety laws.
Citation
Tomsich EA, Pear VA, Schleimer JP, Wintemute GJ. The origins of California’s gun violence restraining order law: a case study using Kingdon’s multiple streams framework. BMC public health. 2023 Jun 30;23(1):1275.
Learn More
- Read the study in BMC Public Health
- View the visual abstract for this paper, also available in our visual abstract archive