Kathleen Carlson’s New Study Examines How Oregon’s ERPO Law Addresses Mass Violence Threats

A recently published study by OHSU-PSU School of Public Health faculty member Kathleen F. Carlson, PhD, sheds new light on how Oregon’s Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law is being used to prevent firearm-related mass violence. The paper was led by Rosol Mikail, MPH, as part of her MPH practicum.

Firearm violence remains a critical public health challenge in the United States, and ERPO laws are one policy tool designed to temporarily restrict access to firearms when an individual is at imminent risk of harming themselves or others. This research focuses specifically on ERPO petitions in Oregon that cited threats of mass violence, including risks to schools and college campuses.

Dr. Kathleen Carlson’s Study Findings

The study analyzed ERPO court records filed in Oregon between 2018 and 2023, examining 835 total petitions. Of these, 92 (11%) involved threats of mass violence. The findings show that petitions citing mass violence threats were significantly more likely to be granted than those without such threats, with over 90% approved by the court. Notably, all ERPO petitions that identified risks to schools or college campuses were granted. The study also found that law enforcement officers filed the vast majority of ERPO petitions involving mass violence threats, highlighting their central role in using this legal tool to intervene before harm occurs.

Oregon Public Health Impact

Overall, the findings suggest that Oregon’s ERPO law is functioning as intended to reduce firearm injury risk, particularly in high-stakes situations involving potential mass violence. By identifying meaningful differences between mass violence and non-mass violence ERPO petitions, the research provides valuable evidence for policymakers, public health professionals, and communities seeking to strengthen violence prevention strategies. The authors note that continued research is needed to better understand barriers and facilitators to effective ERPO implementation and to further evaluate their role in preventing mass violence.

Read the Full Article

To learn more about the study’s methodology, findings, and implications for firearm violence prevention, read the full research article published in Injury Epidemiology:
Extreme risk protection order petitions to prevent mass violence threats in Oregon, 2018–2023.

Visit the Gun Violence Prevention Center webpage to also learn more about other ongoing gun violence prevention research.