Acceptability of Extreme Risk Protection Orders Across Regions of Colorado.

Introduction: The utilization of Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) throughout Colorado varies regionally. Given the potential of ERPOs to decrease firearm violence, this study aims to explore community acceptability of ERPOs in Colorado and to compare acceptability among regions. Methods: The cross-sectional 2023 Colorado Firearm Injury Prevention Survey was administered to 1,520 Colorado adults across 4 geographic regions. Respondents ranked the appropriateness of ERPOs in 5 high-risk scenarios to assess acceptability. Responses were weighted to represent each region's population, and differences in acceptability were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: More than 70% of Colorado adults across all regions deemed ERPOs at least sometimes appropriate in all 5 scenarios. Although there were minimal regional differences in ERPO acceptability, the West/South region was significantly less likely than other regions to say ERPOs were at least sometimes appropriate in 2 of 5 scenarios (p<0.01). Conclusions: Community support for ERPOs is generally high across culturally diverse Colorado regions, suggesting that the acceptability of ERPOs as a violence prevention intervention might not align with regional disparities in ERPO utilization. Few regional differences in acceptability underscore the need to align ERPO application and educational efforts with this widespread public support. Policymakers and public health professionals should challenge narratives purporting low public support for ERPOs and prioritize the education of community members about how and when ERPOs could be useful.