(CNN) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, joined by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, signed a "red flag" gun protection bill Monday morning in New York City.

The bill, also known as an extreme risk protection order bill, allows a court to temporarily prohibit someone from buying or possessing a gun if they're deemed a threat to themselves or others.

"This gun violence issue is a national health epidemic in our country," Pelosi said at the bill signing Monday. "Mr. President, if you want to talk about emergencies, this is an emergency."

Under the new law, police officers, family or household members, or school personnel such as a teacher, principal or guidance counselor, are all able to petition a judge to issue a temporary order to stop someone from purchasing or possessing a gun "upon a finding that there is probable cause to believe [that person] is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to himself, herself or others," according to the text of the bill

"We empower school teachers -- not by giving them guns, which is the President's idea. I mean, how ludicrous a concept?" Cuomo said Monday. "No. Arm and empower the teacher with the law."

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