VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY: Standing With Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers and Gun Violence Survivors, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Signs Historic Extreme Risk Law

Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers Rallied at the Capitol, Testified at All Legislative Hearings, Traveled Across the State to Urge Lawmakers to Pass Critical Legislation

Gun Sense Trifecta in Michigan, Bolstered by Moms Demand Action Volunteers Who Ran for State Legislature and Won, Helped Pave a Path to Pass Critical Common Sense Gun Safety Legislation

LANSING, Mich. —  The Michigan chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statements today after Michigan Governor Whitmer signed a critical gun violence prevention bill that would create an Extreme Risk law and allow for the temporary removal of firearms from people who pose a significant risk to themselves or others. Over 20 states, across the political spectrum,  and D.C. now have extreme risk laws. Moms Demand Action and Student Demand Action volunteers, gun violence survivors, and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, stood with the governor as she signed the bill into law. 

“So many shootings are slow-motion tragedies — a long trail of warning signs leading up to one terrible moment,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “We applaud Governor Whitmer and Michigan lawmakers for giving family members and law enforcement a way to step in and prevent gun violence before it’s too late.”

“Michigan Moms Demand Action volunteers continue to show their strength as a political powerhouse: advocating countless hours for common sense gun measures, electing our own to office, creating a pathway for passing such important legislation,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “We are grateful to Governor Whitmer and gun safety champions in the Michigan legislature for taking a stand for gun safety this session. Their actions will save lives.” 

“Today, Michigan is showing the nation what it looks like to lead on gun safety,” said Celeste Kanpurwala, chapter lead with the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Extreme Risk laws save lives. Period. We could not be prouder of our work with the gun sense champions in the Michigan statehouse and governor’s mansion to get critical gun safety legislation over the finish line this session. Today, we celebrate this life-saving progress and honor the lives taken by gun violence in Michigan.”

“Over a year ago, my school, Oxford High School, was added to a list of schools devastated by tragic acts of gun violence,” said Rebekah Schuler, a volunteer with Students Demand Action and a survivor of the Oxford High School Shooting. “Today, surrounded by Oxford survivors, the victims of my High School shooting, we were honored as Governor Whitmer signed a bill that will create a critical Extreme Risk law in Michigan to help prevent future tragedies. We are thankful for this change that will help my siblings and fellow classmates.”

Today’s signing comes just a month after Michigan Governor Whitmer signed two critical gun safety bills into law. These historic bills created a law to require the secure storage of firearms in homes where children are present and another to require background checks for all gun sales in the state of Michigan. At least 400 Moms Demand Action and Student Demand Action volunteers and gun violence survivors stood with the Governor as she signed those bills on Moms Demand Action’s annual Advocacy Day. 

Prior to the November 2022 elections, the Michigan legislature refused to pass important gun safety policies that would have addressed gun violence in Michigan, and neglected to take action in the wake of the horrific shooting at Oxford High School in 2021. During the 2022 election, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers worked to elect a gun sense trifecta in the state, with Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s re-election and new Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, including electing nine of our own Michigan Moms Demand Action volunteers to help secure the state legislature. After ten years of rallying around gun safety, pushing public education campaigns, meeting with legislators, testifying at hearings, and more, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers have become a powerhouse in the state of Michigan. 

More information about gun violence in Michigan is available here.

If you would like to speak with an expert or a volunteer with Michigan Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action, please do not hesitate to reach out.