I’m not aware of any state that allows an ex-spouse to file for a red flag order.
I believe in Colorado an ex is capable of initiating it. But, ANY law enforcement person can. So, an ex gets mad, calls the cops and makes up a lie. The cop then initiates the red flag proceedings.
I have already had it happen to me, without the red flag law. A person I never met, had only passed on the road, didn't know anything about her, or where she lived, didn't know a name, nothing. She had recently moved into the neighborhood, where I have several neighbors that hate me, hate me for being successful, and for being a gun owner that shoots regularly. The neighbors had "educated" her about me.
Out of the blue one day I get a call saying that I am to be served an order of protection. Did I mention that I had no idea who this person was? I had to move out of MY house of 20 years to comply with the details of the order. When it came to court, THREE weeks later, she admitted that she had NO first hand knowledge of any of the things she accused me of, one of which was stalking. She admitted that she had only been told what a bad dude I was. When she found out that she would have to testify under oath, she dropped the whole issue. She then had the balls to ask the judge to have me pay half of the fees to file and serve me!
It was also apparent in the application for the protection order that the cop that took the call had coached her on what to say, and how to say it.
It cost me 3 weeks of my life turned upside down, and $6000 in attorneys fees! Do I have any recourse to recover that? NO!
The red flag laws will be abused, there are plenty more people like me who have already been dragged through the mud before the red flag law. The red flag law only makes it easier for them to take away your rights and steal your property and bankrupt you in the process.
Think you have done nothing anyone can "red flag" you for? Think again, people these days will lie about anyone. Perhaps they just want to harass you until you sell your house and move, perhaps they just enjoy causing other people grief, perhaps they are seeking the attention provided by news paper articles and cops taking their statements. But, one way or another, people will suffer under red flag laws for having done nothing. Just being a gun owner is enough to be targeted.