Mom Uses ‘Red Flag Law’ Against Cop Who Killed Her Son

No matter what you call them, “red flag laws” or “ERPO laws” or whatever, they are terrible and oppressive things which can be easily abused. A recent case in Colorado is a prime example of this.

In 2017, a police officer shot and killed a 19-year-old man with a large knife who approached the officer and ignored repeated warnings — even pleadings — to drop the knife. Now the knife guy’s mother has reportedly filed an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) petition against that officer.

The Colorado State University police officer responded to a call about a man wielding a large knife. Bodycam video shows him directing and even begging the guy, calling him by his first name many times, often saying “please,” to drop the knife he’s holding. Instead, Jeremy walks towards the officer with the knife held high in his right hand.

As the knife guy continued to approach, the officer backs away, pleading with the young man to drop the knife so he doesn’t have to be hurt. This goes on for two minutes — which no doubt felt like an eternity to the officer.

Reports say Jeremy can be heard heard asking the officer to shoot him.

When the officer finally decides to attempt to use a taser on the knife-wielder and lowers his handgun, Jeremy charges him with the knife, forcing him to fire his pistol in self-defense. This can all be seen in the video below.

Jeremy’s mother filed the ERPO against the officer and in doing so lost all credibility she may have ever had. Not only did she attempt to use a bad law to harass a peace officer, she lied on the form by claiming that she and the officer she loathes are related and have a child together!

That said, the ERPO cannot simply be ignored under the law. A judge must rule on each ERPO, and anyone falsely accused faces lost wages and damage to reputation and (according to one legislator who opposed it) has no recourse other than “hoping a DA files charges.”

The mother can be charged with a misdemeanor for filing a falsified ERPO petition.

Red flag laws are not good things. At best, they cause people to be penalized by government authorities without probable cause. At worst, they are abused and cause waste of taxpayers’ money and untold damage to falsely-accused individuals.

Let’s repeal them all.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.