6 May 9 • 2019 jn The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that’ s useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to refl ect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages creativity and innovation. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the community. Being competitive, we must always strive to be the most respected, outstanding Jewish community publication in the nation. Our rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfi ed advertisers, contented employees and profi table growth. To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.djnfoundation.org The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. 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Subscriptions: 1 year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $85 2 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$153 3 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$204 1 year out-of-state . . . . . . . . . . .$125 2 years out-of-state . . . . . . . . . .$225 Per year foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . .$300 Detroit Jewish News 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110 Southfi eld, MI 48034 ©copyright 2019 Detroit Jewish News views A USA Today/Suffolk University poll in December 2018 found that Republicans, Democrats and Independents all said bipartisan cooperation topped their wish list for what they would like to see in 2019. Amid our country’ s current political polarization, it is easy to understand why this aspiration is shared across the political spectrum. Bipartisan cooperation depends on identifying concerns and ideas shared by Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Last month, in what feels like an unusual moment for 2019, the Republican-led U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a concept that can reduce suicides and interpersonal violence: extreme risk protection orders that authorize judges to temporarily remove firearms from individuals when persuasive evidence shows that they pose a danger to themselves or others. News reports on the hearing indicated that the Committee chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), as well as the senior Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), both made favorable comments about this violence reduction mechanism. Discussions related to gun policy are assumed to produce heated arguments between Republicans and Democrats. Yet, the extent of partisan disagreement actually depends on which gun policies are being debated. Extreme risk protection orders attract support from Americans of all political persuasions. Nearly two-thirds of gun deaths in the United States annually are the result of suicides, an issue that tragically affects families without regard to political affiliation or place of residence. Indeed, firearms suicides occur at markedly higher rates in rural areas than in urban areas. In addition, research shows the risk of shootings associated with domestic violence may be reduced if there is a mechanism to remove firearms during periods of severe interpersonal conflict. Women, in particular, face disproportionate risks of harm in the context of these conflicts. Public opinion surveys in Michigan and nationally confirm that strong majority support exists for this mechanism to reduce deaths and injuries. An EPIC-MRA poll in March 2019 found that more than 70 percent of Michiganders support extreme risk protection orders. A national survey by the Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, also in March 2019, found that nearly 70 percent of gunowners supported such orders and more than 80 percent of people living in homes without guns agreed. In February 2019, bills were proposed in the Michigan legislature (including Senate Bills 156-158 referred to the Senate Government Operations committee and House Bills 4283-4285 referred to the House Judiciary Committee) to enable our state to join 14 other states, including Indiana and Florida, that already authorize judges to take action based on persuasive evidence about extreme risks posed by someone’ s possession of a firearm. The proposed Extreme Risk Protection Order Act provides the affected individual with the opportunity to challenge the judge’ s decision and limits the applicability of the order to one year, unless recent evidence justifies renewal of the order. The proposed law strikes a balance between acting quickly to reduce risk and preserving due process rights for the affected individual. Other states have already pioneered this approach to harm reduction so Michigan can benefit from their experience. When Americans across the political spectrum find common ground in proposals to address difficult problems, it is important for legislators from both parties to notice and take action. Sen. Lindsey Graham’ s Judiciary Committee in the U.S. Senate set an example for serious bipartisan examination and discussion of a violence-reduction approach that has been supported by Republicans and Democrats. At this very moment, Michigan’ s state legislators have the opportunity to consider seriously — in an open and bipartisan manner — the proposed Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, an established concept that enjoys broad support across the political spectrum. ■ See story on page 12. Christopher Smith is professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University and chairperson of the Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. A Bipartisan Approach to Reduce Risks Christopher E. Smith, J.D., Ph.D. Contributing Writer commentary