Prairie State Wire

A new campaign aimed at increasing awareness about Firearm Restraining Orders (FROs) is being launched in Illinois during National Public Health Week. The initiative, named "Pause to Heal," involves a collaboration between the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Brady: United Against Gun Violence, and the Ad Council.

The campaign seeks to educate the public on the state's FRO law, which allows family members to request a court to temporarily restrict access to firearms for individuals posing a threat to themselves or others. This effort comes in response to findings from a study by the Ad Council Research Institute (ACRI) and Joyce Foundation that revealed only 10% of Illinois residents are familiar with these laws.

Governor JB Pritzker expressed support for the campaign, stating, "When people are in crisis, they deserve an opportunity to ‘pause to heal’ and access mental health resources."

The partnership brings together Brady's expertise in gun violence prevention, the Ad Council's communication strategies, and IDPH's authority. Dr. Sameer Vohra of IDPH emphasized that this collaboration aims to address gun violence as a public health crisis.

Since the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, there has been increased focus on FROs as essential tools for community safety. Illinois is one of 21 states with such laws in place.

Michelle Hillman from the Ad Council highlighted that educating the public about extreme risk laws is crucial for enhancing safety. Kris Brown of Brady noted that FROs provide simple and temporary solutions during crises.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly stated that informing people about available tools like FROs can empower them against gun violence.

The campaign includes ads across various media platforms developed by McKinney agency pro bono. It will initially focus on Illinois before expanding to other states with similar laws.

For more information on FROs in Illinois, visit PauseToHeal.