Amid Unrest at Michigan Capitol, U.S. Capitol Michigan Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Call on Michigan Leaders to Regulate Guns in the Capitol

The Michigan chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, the grassroots networks of Everytown for Gun Safety, today called on the Capitol Commission to regulate guns in the Michigan Capitol after hundreds of Trump supporters, many armed, demonstrated outside the Michigan Capitol in solidarity with the attempted coup in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

Following the planned kidnapping of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and several armed demonstrations on the grounds of the Michigan Capitol starting last spring in protest of COVID-19 precautions, Moms Demand Action volunteers made over 900 calls and sent over 750 emails to the Capitol Commission urging them to regulate guns in the Capitol and take action to prevent armed intimidation.

“From the very first time armed extremists showed up at the Michigan Capitol to intimidate lawmakers — proudly displaying Confederate flags and nooses — we knew they were a real and imminent threat to the safety of Michiganders and to our democracy,” said Emily Durbin, volunteer with the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action. “If the thwarted plot to kidnap the governor didn’t make this crystal clear, the attempted coup at the United States Capitol surely opened more eyes to the threats posed by violent far right extremism. There must be action to prevent further violence and armed intimidation of our lawmakers, constituents, and all those who visit the Capitol to peacefully participate in democracy.”

Following the unrest in the spring, Michigan legislators declined to take up legislation to regulate guns in the Capitol, instead deferring to the Capitol Commission which in September voted down two proposals that would have limited guns inside the building.