APRIL 2024 UPDATE: An additional 20,000 dealers, online businesses, or otherwise that were previously not required to run a background check on a potential gun buyer are now required to do so. For more details: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-administration-close-gun-show-loophole/story

JANUARY 2024 UPDATE: Nineteen states and the District of Columbia already have red-flag laws that authorize the temporary removal of firearms from people who are deemed dangerous. Minnesota this week became the 20th state to give family members and law enforcement the ability to ask a court to take away guns in certain situations. Learn more: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesotas-red-flag-law-goes-into-effect/

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Uvalde, Texas, is reeling from the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history after a gunman killed at least 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday. The tragedy is putting “red flag laws” into the spotlight. You might be wondering, what exactly are these laws and who has them?

- Back in 1999, a mass shooting at the Connecticut lottery moved the state to pass the 1st red flag laws.

- Red flag laws, or Extreme Risk Protection Orders, are state laws that allow law enforcement — with a court order — to temporarily seize guns from someone considered a danger to themselves or others. (Some states have also expanded to include medical professionals and school officials.)

- After the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida at least 14 states adopted red flag laws.

- Currently, 19 states plus D.C. have some version of a red flag law.

If you’d like to read more: https://www.axios.com/2022/05/26/gun-control-legislation-red-flag-laws-explained

📸: Sarah Grillo, Axios