As the clock ticks on the legislative session, activists urge Michigan lawmakers to prioritize life-saving measures addressing ghost guns, industry accountability, and violence prevention.
Michigan Advocates Demand Action on Gun Safety Legislation
With the Michigan Legislature entering its final weeks of the 2024 session, a coalition of gun violence prevention groups is pressing lawmakers to prioritize three critical gun safety bills. Advocates argue the measures could have an immediate impact on reducing gun violence in Michigan, a state grappling with both urban and rural firearm-related incidents.
The bills, introduced earlier this year, target ghost guns, expand liability for the gun industry, and provide state-wide funding for violence prevention programs. Advocates, including Everytown for Gun Safety, GIFFORDS, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, are calling on House and Senate leadership to take decisive action during the “lame duck” period.
Key Proposals: Ghost Guns, Accountability, and Prevention
The proposed legislation includes:
- Ghost Gun Regulation: This bill would ban the sale, transfer, or possession of unfinished firearm components, known as ghost guns, which lack serial numbers and evade regulation. Advocates argue this step would help law enforcement trace firearms and reduce their illegal proliferation.
- Industry Accountability: A second measure would repeal Michigan’s legal protections for the gun industry, making manufacturers and sellers liable for negligence or dangerous practices. By carving out an exception to federal law, this bill would empower victims of gun violence to file civil lawsuits against companies engaged in irresponsible behavior.
- Medicaid Funding for Violence Intervention: The third proposal, HB 6064, seeks to codify Medicaid funding for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs. These evidence-based initiatives aim to address the root causes of gun violence and support victims, offering a public health approach to the epidemic.
Coalition Calls for Urgent Action
The coalition behind these efforts is united in emphasizing the urgency of passing the bills before the session concludes.
Kelly Sampson, Senior Policy Counsel at Brady, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the legislation, saying, “By targeting ghost guns, holding the gun industry accountable, and investing in evidence-based community violence solutions, these bills address both immediate threats and long-term prevention. Michigan’s leaders must act now to save lives.”
Echoing this sentiment, Sean Holihan of GIFFORDS urged lawmakers to tackle “unfinished business” and crack down on crime guns and negligent manufacturers, while Jermaine Belcher of the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention praised the Medicaid funding proposal as a critical step toward breaking cycles of violence.
Gun Violence in Michigan: A Public Health Crisis
Michigan, like much of the United States, continues to face a persistent gun violence epidemic. Nationally, firearms claim 125 lives daily, with twice as many individuals injured. In Michigan, this translates to families and communities repeatedly devastated by preventable tragedies.
The proposed measures reflect growing calls for a multi-faceted approach to gun violence—one that combines prevention, accountability, and targeted regulation. Advocates argue that passing these bills would establish Michigan as a leader in addressing the public health impacts of gun violence.
Resistance and Outlook
While the coalition’s push has garnered significant attention, the bills face opposition from gun rights groups and some lawmakers who argue that the proposals infringe on Second Amendment rights or impose undue burdens on the firearm industry. Nevertheless, supporters believe the urgency of the crisis, coupled with the Democratic majority in the statehouse, could make these bills viable before the session ends.
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