Mass shootings have become a uniquely American problem. In recent years, too many lawmakers have trotted out the line “you can’t legislate evil” as cover for doing nothing in the face of unspeakable tragedy, citing analysis that suggests that most active shooters obtained their firearms legally. But a new study issued by our very own Secret Service proves this is far from the truth. In fact, it proves individuals prohibited from owning a gun perpetrate more mass shootings than we previously thought.

Earlier this month, the United States Secret Service released their 2019 annual report, Mass Attacks in Public Spaces. The report outlines violent attacks in public, the majority of which are carried out with a firearm. This year’s report details—for the second year in a row—that individuals prohibited from owning a gun are responsible for many of the attacks.

During 2017 and 2018, the Secret Service examined 27 mass attacks, 24 of which were carried out with firearms, and found that in at least 10 of the incidents, the perpetrators of these attacks were in illegal possession of firearms. This stands in stark contrast to the FBI’s examination of 160 active shooter incidents between 2000 and 2013, which found that “a majority of active shooters obtained their firearms legally, with only very small percentages obtaining a firearm illegally.”

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The previous analysis by the FBI fueled unfortunate media headlines that left many Americans with the mistaken belief that if shooters get firearms legally, gun laws can’t help prevent the next attack. But that’s just not true.

While mass shootings make up a small percentage of the more than 36,000 American lives lost to gun violence each year, these shootings generate much more media attention than other types of gun violence, like firearm suicide and community gun violence. It’s important to develop solutions that are tailored to each aspect of this crisis, rather than searching for a “one size fits all” approach.

To prevent mass shootings, we must ensure that people who talk and write about wanting to hurt others don’t have access to firearms. As an ATF special agent of 25 years, I know how difficult it can be to disarm prohibited people. Safely removing a firearm from a person before they can use it to threaten their spouse, rob a store, or settle a dispute at work is the goal of every law enforcement professional. It is crucial for communities to partner with courts and police to remove guns from persons who may do harm—not only to prevent mass shootings, but also to prevent guns from being used in domestic violence incidents and suicide attempts.

Thankfully, there are tools that can help do just this. Extreme risk protection orders laws provide families and law enforcement with the opportunity to petition a court to temporarily remove someone’s firearms when an individual presents signs of hurting themselves or others. The Secret Service report details that 78 percent of attackers studied exhibited behaviors that caused concern in others. In 19 of the 27 attacks carried out in 2018, “the concern others felt was so severe that they feared specifically for the safety of the individual, themselves, or others.”

Actions taken by those concerned friends and family members included “filing for divorce, ceasing communications, filing for restraining or protection orders, asking loved ones to stay with them out of fear, changing their daily routines, moving, or warning their own family and friends about their concerns. In one case, a person shared photos of the attacker so that others could remain alert and call the police if needed.”

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It seems obvious that someone who makes those around them fearful for their lives should not be able to access a gun. Today extreme risk protection order laws are in effect in 17 states and the District of Columbia. This remarkable progress has been achieved in a short amount of time—before the Parkland massacre in February 2018, only five states had some version of an extreme risk law. We must give communities in every state in the nation access to this lifesaving tool.

Gun violence is a complex problem, but it’s no different than any other public health challenge which requires a comprehensive solution. This new data couldn’t make it any clearer: We need to act, and we need to act now.

Of course, no single law or solution will prevent every mass shooting or every act of gun violence. That doesn’t mean we should throw up our hands and do nothing. We must demonstrate the courage to take action based on the best available evidence and demand our leaders do more to defend us against the next attack.

David Chipman serves as a Senior Policy Advisor at Giffords. In addition, Mr. Chipman currently serves on the Firearms Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Mr. Chipman served 25 years as a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).