Michigan Moms Demand Action, Everytown Urge Lawmakers to Strengthen Domestic Violence Prevention Legislation Introduced in the Michigan Legislature

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after the introduction of HB 6134 and HB 6135 in the Michigan legislature yesterday.

Together, HB 6134 and HB 6135 would prohibit a person convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor for a second or subsequent time from possessing firearms for a period of three years. By contrast, federal law permanently prohibits people convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from possessing firearms. When states have laws matching this federal prohibition, it enables state and local law enforcement and prosecutors to bring abusers to justice if they have guns illegally. That’s why 20 states have enacted laws permanently prohibiting convicted abusers from having guns.

Since the beginning of 2013, 26 states and the District of Columbia have strengthened laws keeping guns away from domestic abusers.In recent months, Republican-controlled legislatures in Kansas and Louisiana have passed domestic violence prevention bills with stronger provisions than those found in HB 6134.

According to data obtained from Michigan State Police, over 200 Michigan residents were shot and killed in domestic violence incidents between 2012-2016 111 were women and 18 were children.

STATEMENT FROM EMILY DURBIN, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE MICHIGAN CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“It’s far too easy for domestic abusers to access guns in Michigan, and it’s encouraging to see lawmakers talking about this deadly problem. Unfortunately, the current version of this legislation doesn’t go far enough to protect Michigan women and families. I hope our lawmakers will keep working on this legislation and send the governor a version that would do more to keep guns away from domestic abusers.”