Nearly 50 orders have been granted to seize guns from people in a Jersey Shore county, under New Jersey’s red flag laws, which went into effect last year, according to data obtained by NJ Advance Media.

Under the Extreme Risk Protective Order Act, which went into effect Sept. 1, 48 orders have been issued to seize guns from people in Ocean County at least temporarily, while 25 orders have been issued to take them indefinitely under one of the latest gun control measure enacted by Gov. Phil Murphy, according to the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts.

The law, which is similar to “red flag” laws used in other states, has been implemented in Ocean County more than twice as often as any other county, according to the data.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, gun rights advocates and attorneys representing gun owners said it is unclear why Ocean County tops the list.

“I was surprised when I looked at the numbers myself,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. “I don’t have a direct answer for you.”

Billhimer said his office has not issued any special mandates outside of the Attorney General’s statewide directive regarding the implementation of the law.

“It is hard to understand why,” said Albert Rescinio, an attorney who has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law. “Nothing immediately sticks out at me.”

The law allows a law enforcement officer, family or household member to submit a petition to state Superior Court showing why a judge should issue an order to keep guns away from someone who potentially poses a danger of causing bodily injury to themselves or to others.

A temporary extreme risk protective order, also known as a TERPO, is issued by a judge if there is “good cause” to remove the guns. A search warrant can then be executed to retrieve the person’s firearms, ammunition and firearms identification card.

The individual is entitled to a hearing within 10 days before a judge. The order can become finalized if the preponderance of the evidence shows the person presents a danger to themselves or others.

If a final order, also known as a FERPO, is granted by a judge, it lasts indefinitely, but the person can also seek to have the order terminated at any time after the order goes into effect.

As of Feb. 4, there have been 198 TERPOs granted and 100 FERPOs granted, according to the New Jersey courts.

Here is the breakdown of where the temporary (TERPOs) and final orders (FERPOs) have been granted across the state by county.

Atlantic

Temporary orders granted: 1

Final orders granted: 1

Bergen

Temporary orders granted: 15

Final orders granted: 10

Burlington

Temporary orders granted: 8

Final orders granted: 3

Camden

Temporary orders granted: 4

Final orders granted: 1

Cape May

Temporary orders granted: 6

Final orders granted: 2

Cumberland

Temporary orders granted: 2

Final orders granted: 1

Essex

Temporary orders granted: 9

Final orders granted: 4

Gloucester

Temporary orders granted: 11

Final orders granted: 9

Hudson

Temporary orders granted: 2

Final orders granted: 0

Hunterdon

Temporary orders granted: 5

Final orders granted: 4

Mercer

Temporary orders granted: 4

Final orders granted: 2

Middlesex

Temporary orders granted: 13

Final orders granted: 6

Monmouth

Temporary orders granted: 14

Final orders granted: 3

Morris

Temporary orders granted: 8

Final orders granted: 4

Ocean

Temporary orders granted: 48

Final orders granted: 25

Passaic

Temporary orders granted: 22

Final orders granted: 11

Salem

Temporary orders granted: 1

Final orders granted: 1

Somerset

Temporary orders granted: 3

Final orders granted: 1

Sussex

Temporary orders granted: 12

Final orders granted: 6

Union

Temporary orders granted: 2

Final orders granted: 2

Warren

Temporary orders granted: 8

Final orders granted: 4

Total

Temporary orders granted: 198

Final orders granted: 100

Story has been updated.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.