The United States is one of only a few countries in the world where citizens have a constitutional right to gun ownership. But unlike many other freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights, the right to firearm ownership is not absolute. Federal law prohibits certain groups from gun ownership, including some convicted felons, fugitives, non-citizens, and those with certain mental illnesses.
However, although possession of a firearm is a criminal offense for such individuals, there is no legal mechanism to proactively ensure compliance. In the absence of federally backed enforcement protocols, many states have enacted their own policies that not only mandate, but also ensure that certain individuals give up their guns. Depending on the circumstances, state and local law enforcement in some parts of the country can confiscate an individual’s firearms for months or even years at a time.
Reviewing state-level laws compiled by the Giffords Law Center, a gun violence prevention group, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where the government can take your gun. Without exception, the laws in the states on this list target only those deemed to pose a direct threat to themselves or others and impose no restrictions on responsible, law-abiding gun owners.
Of the 32 states on this list, the majority have enacted a set of laws known as extreme risk protection orders, or ERPOs. ERPO laws temporarily remove firearm access for persons showing clear warning signs of violence. They are often used to prevent potential suicides and mass shootings. (Here is a look at every state’s grade on gun laws.)
In some states, families and household members can initiate ERPO interventions, while in others, only law enforcement officials can. The level of proof needed to execute an ERPO also varies by state. In some cases, a preponderance of evidence is justification enough, while in others, a higher level of clear and convincing evidence is required. Generally, when an ERPO is carried out, the individual in question must relinquish their firearm or firearms to the proper authorities or else have their guns confiscated by law enforcement.
Many states without ERPO laws are on this list because of laws designed to verify that individuals convicted of crimes that prohibit firearm ownership have, in fact, relinquished their guns. In other states, law enforcement officials are compelled to remove firearms at the scene of domestic violence emergency calls. (Here is a look at the states where gun-related crimes are surging.)
Here are the states where the government will take your gun by force.
California
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 21 days, and a max. of 5 years
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
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Colorado
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
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Connecticut
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and until respondent is determined to no longer be a risk
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement can remove at least some firearms
Delaware
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 15 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
Florida
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
Hawaii
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
Illinois
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and a max. of 6 months
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
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Indiana
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 2 days, and a max. of at least 180 days
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement can remove at least some firearms
Louisiana
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
Maryland
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 1 day, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement can remove at least some firearms
Massachusetts
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 10 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
Michigan
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes (effective 2024), loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
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Minnesota
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes (effective 2024), loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
Montana
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
Nebraska
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
Nevada
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 7 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
New Hampshire
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
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New Jersey
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 10 days with an indefinite max.
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
New Mexico
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 10 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
New York
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 6 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
Ohio
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
Oklahoma
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
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Oregon
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 21 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
Pennsylvania
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
Rhode Island
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
Tennessee
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: Yes
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
Utah
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
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Vermont
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and a max. of 6 months
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement can remove at least some firearms
Virginia
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and a max. of 6 months
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
Washington
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: Yes, loss of firearm for a min. of 14 days, and a max. of 1 year
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
West Virginia
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: No
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: Law enforcement must remove at least some firearms
Wisconsin
> Firearm removal for “extreme risk” individuals: No
> Enforced gun removal for those with a crime-related possession ban: No
> Enforced gun removal for domestic violence convictions?: No
> Enforced gun removal for those under a domestic violence restraining order?: Yes
> Firearm laws for domestic violence emergency calls: None
Methodology
All data in this story was compiled by the Giffords Law Center, a gun violence prevention group. Each of the 34 states on this list have gone beyond the federal government in enacting laws to ensure certain individuals – either those who have committed specific crimes, or those who pose a direct threat to themselves or others – do not have access to firearms for a certain period of time, by either confiscating their firearms, or forcing the individual to relinquish their firearms.
Only states that have extreme risk protection order laws, or laws that mandate law enforcement to confiscate guns at the scene of a domestic violence call, or laws that verify certain convicted criminals have given up their firearms, or laws that ensure those under a domestic violence-related restraining order do not have access to firearms are on this list.
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