Stepping up its efforts in the battle against gun violence, San Diego has unveiled a new major advancement with the launch of the San Diego Gun Violence Prevention Program Task Force. Striving to tap into the state's extensive gun safety measures, the task force represents a concerted partnership between city officials and law enforcement. As per Attorney General Rob Bonta's declaration, this initiative, supported by California Department of Justice (DOJ) grants, seeks to fortify the effective use of court protection orders like Gun Violence Restraining Orders and Domestic Violence Restraining Orders.

According to the Office of the Attorney General, Bonta praised San Diego for "establishing this groundbreaking program and task force". He highlighted California's commitment to leveraging a "robust gun-safety toolkit" to not only protect survivors but also to disarm individuals deemed threatening. As part of this comprehensive strategy, San Diego aims to quickly and safely disarm people subject to protection orders, working to prevent violence proactively rather than reactively.

The collaborative program looks to expand regional partnerships that will aid in identifying dangerous individuals, support the acquisition of protection orders with firearm restrictions, and ensure compliance with those orders through education on proper firearm relinquishment. Bonta's Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) has pushed for communities to develop similar programs, as the OGVP's 2024 report underscores California’s need for coordinated action in implementing and enforcing protection orders.

Per the report, 2024 has seen notable strides. Specifically, California has witnessed a 20% increase in protection orders issued with firearm limits between 2020 and 2023, which has led to more survivors obtaining longer-term protections. Moreover, as Attorney General Bonta emphasized, "the evidence is in on gun violence restraining orders," according to the Office of the Attorney General. Bonta assured that these orders "work" and "save lives," crediting the effectiveness to proper handling and expedited professional response. Indeed, San Diego has taken a significant lead in these endeavors, issuing 35% of all longer-term final Gun Violence Restraining Orders in the state.

Equally celebratory about this initiative, Bonta took to social media to acknowledge San Diego's pioneering role. In a social media post by Rob Bonta, he lauded the city for leading the charge in utilizing California's comprehensive safety measures to "proactively prevent violence." This move positions San Diego as a potential beacon for other cities grappling with the specter of gun violence, illustrating how strategic legal frameworks and community partnerships can come together to construct walls of protection for the most vulnerable among us.

Today, we're proud to join San Diego leaders announcing the establishment of the San Diego Gun Violence Prevention Program Task Force.

California has a robust gun-safety toolkit.

San Diego is leading the way in utilizing that safety toolkit to proactively prevent violence. pic.twitter.com/LjqmzfwJLV

— Rob Bonta (@AGRobBonta) August 6, 2024