Lawmakers from Michigan attend a White House gathering focused on responding to gun violence.
In Washington, DC, on June 24, 2023, one may view the White House. Later today, US President Joe Biden is expected to leave Washington, DC for Camp David.
This week, as part of the Safer States Initiative, the recently established White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Intergovernmental Affairs hosted a gathering that was attended by members of the Michigan Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention (MFSVP) Caucus.
State Representative Felicia Brabec (D-Pittsfield Twp.), the caucus chair, said in a statement on Thursday that the online event spurred discussion on how to better support victims of gun violence, invest in evidence-based strategies for responding to and preventing gun violence, support responsible gun ownership, and push for the adoption of background checks.
State Representatives Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac), Natalie Price (D-Berkley), and Kelly Breen (D-Novi) were there with Brabec, according to an email from Amber McCann, the spokesperson for Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit).
The caucus released a statement subsequent to the occurrence.
“The MFSVP Caucus and its members are dedicated to advancing gun reform across the country and making Michigan a safer place. On February 13, Michigan will implement nine significant new gun reform laws. The main meeting points of the Safer States Initiative, such as safeguarding victims of domestic abuse and mandating background checks, are aligned with this law.
Additionally, caucus members have organized town halls for community violence intervention, which look for research-based solutions for Michigan. The caucus declared, “Our state is committed to making significant progress toward safer neighborhoods.
The Democratic-led Legislature of Michigan passed several gun control measures in 2023, including provisions for extreme risk protection orders, popularly known as “red flag” laws, universal background checks, safe storage requirements, and restrictions on the possession of firearms by those convicted of domestic abuse.
Breen informed participants in the virtual Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Summit earlier this week that state lawmakers would be looking into enacting federal gun violence laws into state law. This is in response to a loophole in federal law that permits individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking and dating violence to lawfully possess firearms.
Breen said that she hoped to see more movement on school safety in the upcoming months, as well as more work on violence prevention.
