Hundreds rally at Capitol in support of 'common sense' gun safety legislation

LANSING — Hundreds of people rallied at the state Capitol Building on Wednesday, roaring in support of "common-sense" gun safety laws now winding their way through a Democratic-majority Legislature eager to act on gun violence following the mass shootings in Oxford and East Lansing.

Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who formed a gun-violence prevention group after being shot in 2011 and resigning from her seat, headlined a roster of fellow Democrats and speakers that included Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Michigan Congresswomen Elissa Slotkin and Debbie Dingell.

"I chose to make a new start, to not look back," said Giffords, who was led up the east Capitol steps by Whitmer. "We are living in challenging times. We are up to the challenge. When people work together, progress is possible."

Democrats are backing an 11-bill package that would establish universal background checks for all gun transactions, safe gun storage measures and extreme risk protection orders, also known as red flag laws.

The bills were introduced in the wake of the Feb. 13 mass shooting that killed three students and injured five others at Michigan State University. Students were ordered to shelter in place for hours while police looked for the shooter, Anthony McRae, who took his own life when confronted by police.

Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser and Alexandria Verner died in the attack.

On Nov, 30, 2021, four students were killed and seven others including a teacher were injured in a shooting at Oxford High School in Oakland County.

A coalition of gun violence prevention groups took part in Wednesday's rally. Advocates say the new measures would help keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them.

Opponents have argued that none of the proposed measures would have prevented the MSU shooting and that gun safety laws are impractical because criminals don’t respect laws.

On Wednesday, counter-protesters walked among gun safety advocates, holding signs saying, "I Plead the Second," and "Don't Tread on my 2nd Amendment Rights." Counter-protesters used bullhorns to shout conservative rhetoric while speakers at a podium on the Capitol steps were addressing the crowd.

Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and other speakers vowed the gun safety legislation will pass.

"Now is the time," the governor said. "In this country, we have gone through gruesome exercises of listing off places where people have been killed by gun violence. We have seen too many times what can happen when somebody opens fire in a place that's supposed to be about community, togetherness or learning."

She described gun violence as "a uniquely American problem."

Brinks said mass shootings now "seem like a matter of 'when,' and not 'if.'"

"It's a new day in Lansing," Brinks said about a Legislature in control of Democrats for the first time in about four decades. "We want to address gun violence in all of its ugly forms, and we will,"

"How many times have we witnessed a horrific tragedy only to be met with silence by those who have the power to do something about it?," she asked. "Far too many. This new majority knows that this is some of the most important work that we will do in our time serving in this legislature ... We are going to get these bills done."

Carolyn Minnette, of Saline, drove to Lansing with a friend to rally in support of the legislation.

She has a connection to someone affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012, and her daughter is a former Michigan State University student.

"It's time to get it done," Minnette said of the gun safety package. "There are a lot of things that need to get changed, and this is one of the big ones."

Minnette said she's tired of hearing about mass shootings.

"The kids are the ones that are saying, 'we're done, we're done," she said. "I think they are leading us now."

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Hundreds rally at Capitol in support of 'common sense' gun safety legislation