New protocols in Ramsey County will give law enforcement fresh tools to remove firearms from at-risk suspects.
Extreme risk protection orders will give family members and law enforcement a new way to obtain a court ordered surrender of firearms in certain dangerous situations where lives are at stake.
"We can collectively come together recognize that this is an important tool, that it's central to our mission to keep our public safe. And knowing all the things that we know about mental health and the prevalence of guns in our society, that we can use this new tool and be intentional about it," says Ramsey County Attorney John Choi.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher says partners, family, friends and law enforcement can report dangerous behavior before it becomes deadly.
"To be frank, that's probably as important as anything, to get people to tell us what's happening because it's no secret," says Fletcher. "Mental health has dramatically exploded here."
Choi says to date, there have been 100 of these orders carried out in Minnesota with only three so far in Ramsey county.
Minnesota is the 20th state in the nation to adopt this type of legislation.