“When someone is placed in emergency custody pursuant to one of those orders, they lose their right to possess a firearm,” Slaybaugh said.

Sullivan rejected the argument, saying that his “red flag” proposal creates an avenue for law enforcement to obtain a warrant to seize any firearms from people at risk, a process he said “doesn’t exist now.”

He added that his proposal would apply to people who may be in “crisis” but may not have a mental illness diagnosis. “There could be lots of reasons why someone shouldn’t have a gun that don’t have to do with a mental illness diagnosis.”

The legislature is not scheduled to reconvene the gun policy session until after the November elections, which will decide partisan control of both chambers for 2020.

The crime commission convenes later this month to study proposals related to gun violence from the special session. Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, chairman of the commission, said officials “do a disservice” by suggesting there is a quick fix to mass shootings.

“I wish that it was as simple as some would suggest to address this, but quite frankly we have some deep societal issues that need to be addressed,” Obenshain said. “I think it really requires a thoughtful approach, not just some kind of a politicization of tragic events.”