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California Launches 'Reduce the Risk' Campaign to Promote Gun Violence Protection Orders
State officials push public education on underused legal tool to prevent shootings
✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Sacramento, CA
SACRAMENTO, CA California officials and gun violence prevention advocates are rolling out a statewide public awareness effort to promote Gun Violence Protection Orders (GVPOs), citing low public familiarity with the tool. The 'Reduce the Risk' campaign is spearheaded by the Governors Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Justice. The initiative was announced alongside news of the sentencing of Tajee Michael, who received 25 years to life for the 2022 killing of high school football coach Greg Najee Grimes. Advocates, including Grimes mother, Deborah, have been vocal about the need for preventive measures that could stop shootings before they occur. According to state officials, only 20% of Californians have significant knowledge of GVPOs, despite their documented role in preventing mass shootings and other acts of violence. Since 2016, GVPOs have been used to intervene in 58 potential mass shooting threats. The campaign will distribute multilingual guides explaining how to request protective orders in cases of domestic violence, harassment, and credible threats, emphasizing that those subject to an order must surrender any firearms.