Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of Oregon’s Extreme Risk Protection Order Law: A Qualitative Study of Professionals Involved in Implementation

After interviewing 35 professionals involved in ERPO in Oregon, including law enforcement, judges, district and city attorney’s offices, and professionals in suicide and domestic violence prevention and substance use, the researchers found that insufficient funding and resources, petition completion time constraints, safety and timeliness concerns, and enforcement mechanisms acted as barriers to the ERPO process. Conducting risk assessments, non-confrontational enforcement approaches, expansion of petitioner eligibility, allowing law enforcement to petition 24/7, and requirements for documentation of firearm surrender can improve implementation.