Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed three bills, which she says are to keep kids safe at school and reduce gun violence across Michigan.
The announcement was made on her Facebook page Wednesday (Jan. 22), and she said, “Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with this issue. Guns are the number one killer of young people in this country. It’s a uniquely American problem.”
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Local 4 has covered the mass shootings at Oxford High School and Michigan State University, where lives were lost to senseless gun violence.
For starters, every school must create a behavioral threat assessment team.
The teams will identify students or staff who pose a danger to themselves or others, ensure they have a process to respond to concerning behaviors, and proactively intervene.
Second, all schools will use the same language regarding school safety so law enforcement can respond efficiently in an emergency.
Third, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will develop information on safe storage that districts can send to families. Hence, students and parents will have the information they need to stay home safely.
Lastly, all firearms turned in through the Michigan State Police’s buyback program should be destroyed and not stripped for parts to be resold.
“For too long, resold gun parts have been used to make more weapons that go out into our streets, putting families at risk. I’m so grateful to everyone who worked hard to get these bills across the finish line.”
In the last few years, Whitmer said action was taken to save lives and reduce gun violence by having:
- Universal background checks
- Extreme risk protection orders
- Safe storage requirements
- Stronger penalties for those convicted of domestic violence
“These are commonsense steps supported by a majority of Michiganders. We still have a lot of work to do, and I’m ready to work with anyone who wants to protect public safety and reduce gun violence. In 2025, we’ll stay focused on keeping people safe and making sure Michigan is the best state to live, work, and grow up.”
