Giffords Commends Michigan State Senate’s Gun Violence Prevention Bills
The bill package includes universal background checks, safe storage, and extreme risk protection order legislation.
Washington DC — Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, commended Michigan state Senate leaders for filing crucial gun violence prevention legislation today in response to the tragic and horrific shooting that took place on Monday night at Michigan State University, just a few minutes away from the state capitol.
This legislative package will require guns to be safely stored away from children and background checks to be conducted no matter how the firearm is purchased, and will help ensure guns are kept out of the hands of those that pose a danger to themselves or others.
Giffords Executive Director Peter Ambler:
“For too long, Michigan’s leaders failed to respond to the call from their communities to enact commonsense, lifesaving legislation. It’s a new day in the Great Lakes State. Its new leaders have met the moment by stepping up and fighting to ensure that firearms don’t fall into the wrong hands.”
ABOUT MICHIGAN’S GUN LAWS
Background checks are a foundational gun safety policy that is broadly popular and underpins many other gun safety laws. Michigan law requires the buyer of a handgun to either have a handgun purchase license, a license to carry a concealed handgun, or to have undergone a background check through a federally licensed dealer. The state does not require a background check for the sale or transfer of a long gun from an unlicensed seller.
The state has not implemented an extreme risk protection order (aka “red flag”) law. These laws establish a court process for keeping guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others.
Michigan does not require firearms owners to lock their weapons in safes, or require unattended firearms to be stored in a certain way to prevent unauthorized access by children or others.
MEDIA REQUESTS
Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.
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