Slower Than Speeding Bullets   
   
   Safety legislation, that is.

   Suppose a teen was expelled from school, fights with others, is fascinated with weapons, mistreats animals, writes threatening thoughts online, and has had mental health treatment. Police were called to his home multiple times. 

   That's seven red flags right there. Authorities knew him well, and did nothing about his firearms. 

   Only after Nikolas Cruz killed 17 students did Florida pass red-flag legislation. Now, authorities can petition a court for a risk-protection order.

   Even before a hearing, the court can issue an order requiring the person to surrender all firearms and ammunition, and prohibit buying or possessing guns. If, after the hearing, the court issues a full risk-protection order, the ban lasts for a year and can be extended in one-year increments. 

   Since 2018, 2,380 orders have been issued. That's one state. Only 13 states have such laws. Cruz's county accounts for the third most orders, 327, among counties. A poll found that 85 percent of Americans favor red-flag laws, most of them "strongly." 

   These orders also result in a modest decline in suicide by gun, probably giving certain troubled individuals more time to rethink their actions. 

   Waiting for Congress? What's your state doing about it?

Tomorrow: Food for thought from Peggy Noonan

       Jimmy