DISAPPOINTING FAILURE TO TAKE ACTION: Coalition of Gun Violence Prevention Groups Issue Statement on Michigan House Adjourning, Failing to Pass Life Saving Gun Violence Prevention Legislation

Michigan Senate Lawmakers Will Have the Opportunity to Take Action and Pass Gun Safety Legislation Later Today

LANSING, Mich. —  Today, a coalition of gun violence prevention organizations issued the following statements in response to the Michigan House’s failure to pass critical gun violence prevention bills before adjourning the 2024 legislative session.With the gun sense trifecta losing its majority in January, this lame-duck session was a crucial opportunity for lawmakers to take action on gun safety. As a result of this abrupt end to session, there were key policies that were left on the House floor without being brought  up for a vote, including:

• Legislation to ban ghost guns (SB 1149/1150);
• Legislation to ban bump stocks (SB 942);
• Legislation banning guns in the capitol (SB 857/858), and  
• Donna’s law, which would create a voluntary do-not-sell list (SB 1086).

“Ghost guns are untraceable firearms easily assembled in minutes from parts bought without a background check. They undermine gun safety laws, endanger  public safety, and have become a weapon of choice for criminals,” said Denise Wieck, a gun violence survivor and volunteer lead with Moms Demand Action. Wieck’s son, Guy, was shot and wounded by a ghost gun in 2021. Wieck is the co-founder of the organization Lock It For Everyone (L.I.F.E.). “No one should have to go through the pain of learning that your child has been shot and may not survive. At 17, my son was badly injured with a ghost gun and suffers the consequences to this day. Michigan House’s failure to do all that it could to ban these incredibly dangerous weapons will cost lives.”

“Michigan House lawmakers have one fundamental responsibility: to pass laws that serve and protect their constituents. Today, some representatives failed to meet that duty – prioritizing their egos over saving  lives – a failure that is not only disappointing but unacceptable,” said Monisha Henley, senior vice president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Because of this inaction, the 2024 Michigan House session closed without advancing life-saving  measures like bans on ghost guns and bump stocks. This is an unfortunate legacy for the Michigan House, and we hope the Senate will demonstrate actual leadership on public safety later today by taking action and voting on these bills. Michigan families deserve better.”

“The failure of some house members to vote out legislation they actually support is astonishing,” said Ryan Bates, Executive Director of End Gun Violence Michigan, Lives hang in the balance, but instead political games in Lansing have stood in the way. This is shameful.”

“Lawmakers in Michigan dropped the ball today, failing to pass critical laws to keep our schools, workplaces, and communities safe. Michiganders deserve representatives who will uphold their duty and deliver for the people they swore to serve,” said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown. “Families who have endured the pain and loss caused by gun violence understand the urgent need for action — their leaders should too. In the weeks and months ahead, GIFFORDS will continue to use every lever available to push for bold progress in state legislatures and ensure gun laws are strengthened nationwide.”

“Legislators have few responsibilities more supreme than passing policies that serve their constituents and communities. That responsibility certainly extends to the final moments in a legislative session. As a Detroit native, it is deeply frustrating to have just witnessed the Michigan House close today, without voting on life-saving gun violence prevention bills.” said Kelly Sampson, Senior Policy Counsel for Brady.”As gun violence continues to devastate communities across Michigan, this is a dereliction of duty. This is an incredibly sad day and it is our sincere hope that from here on, Michigan lawmakers do everything in their power to fight this public health crisis, because legislative inaction continues to prove deadly in this country in ways no other industrialized country allows. Michiganders deserve better. 

Later today, the Michigan Senate will have the opportunity to vote to pass additional critical violence prevention legislation. These bills include:

• Legislation to facilitate Medicaid reimbursement for critical services provided by community violence intervention organizations (HB 6046);
• Legislation to ensure crime guns and guns collected from buyback programs are destroyed. (HB 6144/6145/6146).
• Legislation to dedicate funding from the Public Safety Trust Fund to gun violence prevention (HB 4606), and 
• Legislation to require secure firearm storage notifications in schools (HB 5450).

In Michigan, over 1,400 people are killed by firearms every year and nearly 3,000 more are wounded by guns. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Michigan with an average of 115 children and teens dying by guns every year. More about gun violence in Michigan is available here.