Two months after MSU mass shooting, Michigan governor signs gun safety legislation

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Thursday aimed at preventing gun violence in Michigan by expanding background checks and establishing penalties for those who fail to keep firearms out of the hands of children.

Whitmer signed the bills at Michigan State University's campus just two months after a shooting at the school left three dead and five injured.

"Today we're taking common sense gun action to reduce violence and save lives," Whitmer said at the bill signing ceremony. "Gun violence is a scourge that is unique to this country and that's why we're taking action."

Whitmer added: "We don't have to live like this and today we're showing that we're not going to."

'Mom, I hear gunshots.' Michigan State students live through a second mass shooting

Michigan State University shootings: 3 killed, 5 injured; suspect dead after hourslong search

Whitmer re-ups calls for 'red flag law'

In addition to the bills she signed, Whitmer repeated her call for lawmakers to send legislation to create a so-called "red flag law" her way. "All of these initiatives are supported by a majority of Michiganders," she said.

Democrats in the state House and Senate have passed bills to allow courts to temporarily take firearms away from those deemed dangerous. But the two chambers have to work out small differences and give the bills final approval before they can go to Whitmer. The House may vote on a series of red flag bills as soon as Thursday afternoon.

While federal law currently requires background checks for gun sales by licensed dealers, Michigan law only requires first obtaining a license for purchasing pistols from private sellers. The Democratic legislation signed by Whitmer would expand the requirement to all firearm purchases. It passed on a party-line vote.

Law requires some gun owners to lock firearms

Whitmer also signed legislation requiring gun owners to store their firearms in a locked container or use a locking device if they have a child in the house or take their gun somewhere where a child couldn't gain access to it.

If a child injures themselves or someone else with an unlocked firearm, the gun owner would be guilty of a felony punishable up to five years' imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine. If the minor kills themselves or someone else, the individual who failed to secure or lock their firearm would be guilty of a felony punishable up to 15 years' imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine.

"No longer do we only have our thoughts and prayers. We have these tools and we're taking action," said Kalamazoo County Sheriff Rick Fuller at the bill- signing ceremony.

The bills passed along a party-line vote in the state Senate but received the support of five GOP state representatives in the House, including House Minority Leader Matt Hall.

Three Oakland County lawmakers also voted for the bills. Not far from their competitive districts, a 15-year-old at Oxford High School used a gun purchased by his parents to kill four students and injure seven others in a November 2021 rampage.

His parents — the first in the country charged with involuntary manslaughter in a mass school shooting committed by their child — argue the gun used in the massacre was locked and secure. But prosecutors counter the shooter had easy access to the weapon at home.

Parents charged in Oxford, Highland Park mass shootings. That's unusual.

Democrats introduced similar safe storage requirement bills last legislative session that languished in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Whitmer also signed bills to temporarily exempt firearm safety devices from sales and use taxes.

Democrats shepherding the gun safety measures passed so far say their actions represent a starting point and to expect additional proposals to curb gun violence.

Dig deeper

• 100 days into 2023: Louisville attack marks nation's 146th mass shooting and 15th mass killing

• 'Doesn't make sense.' Louisville grieves as Old National Bank goes from crime scene to memorial

• Opinion: As a doctor, I've seen what an AR-15 does to the body. Unless we act, so will many Americans.

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Michigan governor signs gun safety legislation after MSU mass shooting