As Michigan lawmakers and leaders approach six months of active legislative session, several critical loopholes in Michigan’s gun laws remain open that pose a direct threat to keeping communities safe from the threat of gun violence.
“We cannot rest until our communities are protected from the threat of gun violence,” said Skye Thietten, a volunteer with the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action. “I urge Michigan lawmakers and leaders to take action and close the dangerous loopholes in our gun laws that continue to put our communities at risk of gun violence — so we can make real strides toward keeping people safe.”
While the Michigan Capitol Commission unanimously prohibited the open carry of firearms inside the Michigan Capitol building in January — concealed carry in and around the Michigan Capitol grounds is still allowed.
- The vote to prohibit open carry in the Capitol came after the planned kidnapping of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, several armed demonstrations on the grounds of the Michigan Capitol starting in the spring last year in protest of COVID-19 precautions, and after hundreds of Trump supporters demonstrated outside the Michigan Capitol in solidarity with the attempted coup in Washington, D.C. in January.
- HB 4023/4024 and SB 34/35 would close the concealed carry loophole at the State Capitol and would better protect state legislators and visitors from the threat of armed intimidation.
There are also currently gaps in Michigan law that give domestic abusers easy access to guns. Michigan lawmakers should follow the lead of nearly thirty states that have taken action since 2013 to protect women and families by passing laws to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. Michigan should act swiftly to pass a state law to prohibit abusers convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence from possessing firearms.
- From 2015 to 2019, 91 women were fatally shot by an intimate partner in Michigan.
- Common-sense laws that keep guns out of the hands of abusive partners would reduce gun violence and domestic violence.
Michigan law currently requires background checks for the sale of all handguns, however, background checks are not required for unlicensed rifle and shotgun sales.
- 93 percent of American voters support requiring background checks on all gun sales, including 89 percent of Republicans and 89 percent of gun owners.
- SB 454/455/456 would help close the background check loophole for unlicensed rifle and shotgun sales. This is an important step towards protecting Michigan communities from the threat of gun violence.