Michigan Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) & Safe Storage Laws

On February 13th of 2024, the one year anniversary of the Michigan State University shooting, Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) and Safe Storage laws went into effect here in Michigan. With the implementation of ERPO, evidence-based counseling and giving resources to patients about the safe storage of firearms, clinicians have several approaches to keep our patients and families safe in their homes and communities.

The Why

There are sobering statistics that highlight the importance of this topic. Here are just a few:

  • In 2021, firearms were responsible for 48,830 deaths across the United States (14.7 per 100,000), a 6.7% increase from 2020. Of those, 1,544 deaths occurred in Michigan alone (15.4 per 100,000), a 5% increase from 2020. Since 2011, the number of deaths from firearms far exceeds the number of deaths from motor vehicle crashes in Michigan.[i]
  • Firearms now kill more children, adolescents and young adults than any other cause, surpassing motor vehicle crashes.[ii] The majority of these deaths are suicides and homicides, with a much smaller but sobering number from unintentional shootings and mass shootings.
  • Counseling our patients about secure storage is a lifesaving strategy, however, in the U.S., more than half of guns in homes are unsecured by gun locks, safes or other means. [iii]

Several primary care-based organizations have supported these new laws and other advocacy efforts for common sense approaches in the prevention of gun violence. [iv, v] I too have experienced firsthand issues around firearms in my own practice as well as the challenging circumstances when addressing mental health issues with patients and family members.

Together we can make a difference.

As a family doctor who cares about the communities where we live and work, the Board Chair of the Michigan Center for Clinical Systems Improvement (MI-CCSI), whose mission is to partner to better care, a retired U.S. Air Force flight surgeon who followed similar protection policies during my 28 year career in the military and, for this moment in history, a proud Michigander, I’m excited to share a number of trainings and informational forums (with more to come) available to providers in our state specific to efforts to reduce gun violence and injuries in the populations we serve.

Please refer to the following links from organizations leading the way for clinicians and community leaders to learn more about ERPO laws, safe storage and other firearm safety issues.

  • ERPO Law and Safe Storage Resources — The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) Foundation – Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (ERPO) – “Red Flag Law” https://www.pathlms.com/msms/courses/64081.
    • PLEASE NOTE: The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) Foundation has implemented a new online learning management system. Members can now access all purchased content at www.msms.org/LMS with the same log-in credentials as the MSMS website. It may take up to 5 minutes for content to appear under your “My Activity” section on the homepage.
  • Michigan (MI) Gun Violence Prevention Summit: Recordings — MI Gun Violence Prevention Summit, 2024 – YouTube

If you have an interest in learning more, please do not hesitate to contact MI-CCSI via our website at Contact MI-CCSI.

Thank you,
Kevin J. Bohnsack, MD, MPH

i SOURCE: University of Michigan – Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention

ii SOURCE: KFF analysis of CDC Wonder, 2011-2020, and CDC Wonder Provisional Mortality Statistics, 2021-2022

iii SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

iv SOURCE: AAFP Joins Renewed Demand for Critical Gun Reforms | AAFP

v SOURCE: Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) or “Red Flag” Laws (aap.org)

Page last updated: August 1, 2024