GIFFORDS urges Michigan lawmakers to save lives, pass gun violence prevention bills
MIAMI — GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement urging Michigan lawmakers to vote yes on the commonsense gun violence prevention reform put forward by the Firearm Safety and Gun Violence Prevention Caucus. On average, more than 1,400 people die by gun violence each year in Michigan — a stark reminder of just how pressing the need for gun safety laws is.
“From holding irresponsible gun industry CEOs accountable to requiring firearm safety training, Michigan’s Firearm Safety and Gun Violence Prevention Caucus has put forward a strong slate of bills that will stop shootings and make Michiganders safer if enacted. We thank State Representatives Julie Brixie and Helena Scott for their leadership on this important issue,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director at GIFFORDS. “As falling homicide rates in Michigan over the past few years make clear, commonsense gun laws save lives and fight crime. I urge Michigan legislators from both sides of the aisle to come together and vote to protect families and neighborhoods.”
The proposed bills include:
- Gun Dealer License and Liability: House Bills 5065 (Hope) & 5066 (Carter); Senate Bills 853 (Chang) & 854 (Camilleri)
- These bills would create a state-level gun dealer license in the state of Michigan. This would hold gun dealers liable if they sell a firearm to someone who is prohibited from possessing one, and would require gun dealers carry $1 million of liability insurance.
- Repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA): House Bills 5758 (Morgan), 5759 (Price) & 5760 (Myers-Phillips); Senate Bill (McMorrow)
- This bill would end gun industry immunity by allowing victims of gun violence to file civil lawsuits against firearm manufacturers should a crime be committed with their product.
- Ban Bump Stocks: Senate Bill 224 (Polehanki); House Bill 5751 (Wooden)
- This bill will ban bump stocks and multiburst triggers that allow semiautomatic firearms to rapidly fire and act like machine guns.
- This bill will ban bump stocks and multiburst triggers that allow semiautomatic firearms to rapidly fire and act like machine guns.
- Ban High-Capacity Magazines: House Bill 5750 (Brixie); Senate Bill 851 (Moss)
- This bill prohibits magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. This will limit lethality by restricting a shooter’s ability to fire many rounds without pausing to reload.
- This bill prohibits magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. This will limit lethality by restricting a shooter’s ability to fire many rounds without pausing to reload.
- Firearm Safety Training: House Bill 5752 (Dievendorf)
- This bill will require anyone intending to purchase a firearm to complete a firearm safety course that includes live firearm training.
- This bill will require anyone intending to purchase a firearm to complete a firearm safety course that includes live firearm training.
- Three-Day Waiting Period: House Bill 5743 (Scott); Senate Bill 848 (Bayer)
- This bill will require a three day waiting period between the completion of a sale of a firearm and when the purchaser can actually acquire the firearm. This will prevent impulsive acts of gun violence.
- Guns Out of Gun Free Zones: House Bills 5741 (Brixie) & 5742 (Paiz); Senate Bills 849 & 850 (Bayer)
- This bill will close a loophole that allows concealed pistol license holders to open carry in gun free zones. It will also add libraries, the state capitol grounds and state owned or leased buildings (except shooting ranges) to the list of gun free zones.
- This bill will close a loophole that allows concealed pistol license holders to open carry in gun free zones. It will also add libraries, the state capitol grounds and state owned or leased buildings (except shooting ranges) to the list of gun free zones.
- Allow Local Governments to Prohibit Firearms: House Bill 5749 (Wilson); Senate Bill 852 (Bayer)
- This bill will give cities, counties and townships the option to ban firearms from their government buildings.
- Messiah’s Law: House Bills 5744 & 5745 (Neely), 5746 (Young)
- This bill will increase penalties for anyone who harms or kills a child while intentionally shooting at a house or otherwise occupied building, to help prevent drive-by shootings.
- Must Be Age 21+ to Purchase a Firearm: House Bills 5753 (MacDonell) & 5754 (Edwards)
- Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act in 2018, Florida law requires individuals to be 21 years of age to purchase any firearm.
- Prohibit Guns in the Michigan Capitol, House and Senate: Senate Bills 225 (Bayer) & 226 (Polehanki); House Bills 5747 (Hoskins) & 5748 (Arbit)
This bill will prohibit people from carrying firearms in the state capitol. Twenty-three states currently prohibit firearms to some degree within state capitols, state houses or state offices.
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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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