(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/30/23) Several members of the Michigan Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Caucus called for immediate action on extreme risk protection order (ERPO) or “red flag” legislation following Monday's Covenant School shooting in Tennessee.
The bills to establish ERPOs are the last of a Democratic gun safety package that included establishing background checks and safe storage requirements. The entire package passed the Senate on March 16, while background checks passed the House a day earlier and safe storage requirements from both chambers moved out on March 22.
The red-flag legislation is still stuck in the House Judiciary Committee, and while Chair Kelly Breen (D-Novi) said “anything’s possible” when asked if the legislation could be taken up before spring break, the bills didn’t move.
Now, Reps. Felicia Brabec (D-Ann Arbor) and Christine Morse (D-Kalamazoo) have requested “immediate action” on the last remaining part of the bill package.
Brabec, who chairs the Violence Prevention Caucus, said ERPO orders would have saved lives Monday.
“When family members or friends show troubling signs that they pose a threat to themselves or others, we need to empower loved ones to intervene to stop these kinds of preventable tragedies before they happen,” she said.
Brabec referenced a March 3 Impact Research poll that found 77% of Michiganders either strongly or somewhat support instituting ERPOs that would allow law enforcement to temporarily take guns away from someone who poses an immediate risk to themselves or others.
The Feb. 17-23 poll was conducted with 600 Michiganders likely to vote in 2024 and had a 3.3% margin of error.
Morse, who vice-chairs the caucus, said no one wants another reminder that gun violence should be addressed immediately.
“Those horrific reminders are actual lives lost,” she said. “My colleagues and I are committed to taking immediate action to pass legislation to secure extreme risk protection orders.”
