CeaseFirePA Education Fund today released a new video as part of its Deadly by Design: Facing the Truth About Gun Violence in PA storytelling project.
The moving video shares the story of Alex Umble, who in 2018, during a depression related crisis, created an online account at a local firearms retailer, paid for a gun with his debit card, drove to the store on Saturday to pick it up, and died by suicide late on Monday.
An Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) could have temporarily prevented his purchase and saved his life.
https://deadlybydesign.org/video/alex-umble/
Alex’s story reveals how the absence of Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) in Pennsylvania can have deadly consequences.
“Alex’s story shows us exactly why Pennsylvania needs Extreme Risk Protection Orders,” said Adam Garber, CEO of CeaseFirePA Education Fund. “When someone is in crisis, there should be a way for family members or law enforcement to temporarily remove access to firearms. This isn’t about taking away rights permanently – it’s about saving lives during a critical window when intervention can make all the difference.”
ERPOs allow family members or law enforcement to petition a judge for time-limited removal of, and restrictions on access to, firearms for people who may be a danger to themselves or others. The process includes checks and balances, giving people a chance to respond and present evidence. Law enforcement can also remove firearms already in a person’s possession.
Twenty states, including Virginia, Connecticut, Florida, New York, and New Jersey, have already enacted ERPO laws. Over 67,000 petitions have been filed nationwide, saving hundreds of lives. An overwhelming majority of Americans favor Extreme Risk laws, and multiple studies prove they work to prevent firearm suicide. Growing evidence also shows they can help prevent would-be mass shooters from committing violence.
“By sharing Alex’s story with Pennsylvania legislators, we can help save the lives that he and his family did not have the tools to,” said Garber. “This is about facing the truth: our system is designed to allow tragedies like Alex’s to happen. But we have the power to change that system and save lives.”
The video is part of CeaseFirePA Education Fund’s ongoing Deadly by Design project, which features Pennsylvania gun violence survivors telling their own stories to educate Pennsylvanians and policymakers about how policy failures directly enable gun violence.
Watch Alex’s story and explore the full collection at: DeadlyByDesign.org
As the Commonwealth’s leading gun violence prevention organization, CeaseFirePA Education Fund organizes communities closest to the issue, holds those in power accountable, and maximizes the strengths of every member in its broad coalition.
