In 1999 , Connecticut was the first to enact a red flag law , following a rampage shooting at the Connecticut Lottery . It was followed by Indiana ( 2005 ) , California ( 2014 ) , Washington ( 2016 ) , and Oregon ( 2017 ) . California was the first state to pass a red flag law allowing family members to petition courts to take weapons from persons deemed a threat , after Elliot Rodger committed a mass shooting in Isla Vista , California ; the California law also permits law enforcement officials to petition for an order for the removal of guns from an individual for up to twelve months . The California Legislature passed a measure in 2016 to allow high school and college employees , co-workers and mental health professionals to file such petitions , but this legislation was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown
Elliot Rodger committed a mass shooting
2014 Isla Vista killings
Red flag law