Firearms Restraining Order (FRO)

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What is a Firearms Restraining Order (FRO)?

In Illinois, the Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) allows family/household members, and law enforcement to work with courts to temporarily remove guns and prevent the purchase of new guns by individuals who pose a significant risk of harm to themselves or others. The FRO is a civil procedure, not a criminal one. FROs are a type of Order of Protection. The goal is to ensure the safety of the individual and those around them.

The FRO requires temporary removal of guns from the subject of the order and prohibits new purchases for the duration of the order. This creates safer circumstances for the individual to seek treatment, stabilize their behavior, or access resources to address the underlying causes of their dangerous behaviors.

When are FROs needed?

The purpose of a Firearms Restraining Order is to prevent individuals who pose an elevated risk of endangering themselves or others from accessing guns before they harm themselves or others. Before many shootings, family members of the shooter have observed dangerous behaviors or have grown concerned about their risk of harming themselves or others. Family and household members are often the first to know when someone is in crisis or poses a harm. A Firearms Restraining Order is a way for family or household members or law enforcement to ask a court to restrict a person’s access to guns to prevent the commission of gun violence.

Who can petition for a FRO?

Family and household members:

If you believe that a family or household member may harm themselves or others by having a firearm, petitioning for an FRO can be an important step to reduce the risk. When petitioning for an FRO, a family member is defined as: a spouse, former spouse, person with whom the respondent has a minor child in common, parent, child, step-child, any other person related by blood or marriage, or a person who shares a common dwelling. You should also immediately contact local law enforcement to report the situation.

Law Enforcement:

Law enforcement officers can identify individuals who pose a threat of harm by having access to firearms. Obtaining an FRO can be a proactive way to prevent violence if law enforcement officers encounter someone demonstrating that they pose a risk to themselves or others.

How does a Firearms Restraining Order work?

A family member, household member, or law enforcement can petition an Illinois circuit court for an order to temporarily limit firearm access to a “respondent,” the individual who poses a danger of injury. After an initial hearing based on evidence is done, a judge may issue an emergency FRO immediately. The judge then will hold a full hearing to decide whether to end the emergency FRO or whether to issue a six-month FRO. There are two stages in the process for obtaining an FRO:

Stage 1: Law enforcement or a family or household member fills out a petition explaining how the respondent’s access to firearms poses an immediate and present danger of causing injury to themselves or others. The petition is then filed at the county court where the respondent resides. The petitioner does not have to notify the respondent about filing the petition. However, the petitioner must make an effort to notify an intimate partner of the respondent if the intimate partner is a target. The court will hold an emergency hearing the next day it is in session. The judge will issue an emergency FRO if they find probable cause to believe the respondent poses an immediate and present danger of causing injury. If an emergency FRO is issued, a full hearing is scheduled as soon as possible so the respondent can be heard, and the full hearing must be held within 14 days. During the short period of time before a full hearing can be held, the emergency FRO ensures that the respondent is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm.

Stage 2: At the full hearing, the judge considers whether to end the emergency FRO or whether to change it into a six-month FRO. At the hearing, the petitioner must show “by clear and convincing evidence” that the respondent creates “a significant danger” of injury to themselves or others by having access to firearms. A petitioner is required to present evidence to the court. A respondent also has an opportunity to present evidence. If the court decides the respondent presents a significant danger, the court issues an order prohibiting the purchase and possession of firearms for six months.

Note that a family or household member or law enforcement can skip the Emergency FRO and petition directly for a six-month FRO if they choose. Further, a petitioner who obtains a 14-day FRO is not required to proceed with the six-month FRO process if the danger is no longer present.

What kind of evidence does the court need?

The petitioner and respondent can present any evidence they think will be relevant to the court’s decision. Examples of evidence that may help the court include, but are not limited to, facts about the respondent’s:

1. unlawful or reckless use of firearms;

2. history of physical force;

3. prior felony arrests;

4. abuse of controlled substances or alcohol;

5. recent threats or acts of violence;

6. violations of domestic violence protection orders; or

7. pattern of violence.