More Gun Restrictions Talk After MSU Shooting – Following the tragic shooting at Michigan State University, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (a Democrat BTW) has promised the Michigan Senate will be introducing gun control. These over the top measures will include safe storage laws, tougher universal background checks (here we go again!), and red flag laws. Brinks, who is a Democrat from Grand Rapids , said she watched the news of the shooting unfold with “dread and horror” and NOW feels a responsibility to introduce what SHE deems is “common-sense legislation”. Yeah, RIGHT.
As we all have by now heard, on Monday night, three students were killed and five others were wounded, resulting in many students seeking shelter on campus. This is the second tragic shooting in Michigan in 15 months, with four students killed in a shooting at Oxford High School in November 2021.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, an alumna of Michigan State University, urged action to curb gun violence and called the issue of gun violence a “uniquely American problem.” (Uniquely American? Guess she doesn’t watch the news huh?) House Speaker Joe Tate, a Detroit Democrat and former MSU football team captain, has criticized lawmakers for inaction and called for change. After the House and Senate canceled their sessions, they plan to meet to discuss how to prevent gun violence. Sounds like a LOT of talk.
Anthony McRae, the suspected shooter, was offered a plea deal back in 2019 that allowed him to plead down from carrying a concealed pistol without a concealed carry permit, a five-year felony, to possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, a two-year high court misdemeanor (WTF?). He served 18 months of probation, which he completed in May 2021. Under the high court misdemeanor charge, McRae was able to legally own and possess a gun after probation. The enforcement of current laws is being questioned, as McRae’s plea deal prompted some to call for better enforcement of existing firearm laws before pushing for additional regulation.
More Gun Restrictions Talk After MSU Shooting
Great Lakes Gun Rights criticized the immediate push for additional gun regulation and urged Michigan residents to demand their lawmakers “oppose all gun control efforts.” Brenden Boudreau, executive director for Great Lakes Gun Rights, stated, “handgun registration laws and ‘gun-free’ zones didn’t stop this evil madman, and they won’t stop another one in the future. More gun control in Michigan will leave law-abiding citizens helpless when they need to defend themselves and others.” Seems that if more gunowner had been around, this threat may have been put down before it escalated to what it became.
Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, said his “heart breaks” for the victims and families (thoughts & prayers again?). Nesbitt said schools need to continue to be made safer and improvements should be made to mental health screening and care. He also stressed that current laws should be enforced, an apparent reference to McRae’s past plea deal and what Nesbitt called “soft-on-crime prosecutors.” He noted that “proposing bills that do not address the root causes of this epidemic just to do something is just as bad as doing nothing.” He didn’t mention any need for, perhaps, armed personnel at MSU or any other practical measures. Just more rhetoric.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has previously called for universal background check requirements for people who want to buy firearms, a safe storage standard for guns in the home, and “extreme risk” protection orders, also known as a red flag law, to allow guns to be taken away from people deemed a risk to themselves and others. Democrats called for similar reforms after the 2021 killing of four students at Michigan’s Oxford High School. However, Republicans 2nd Amendment protectors who controlled the House and Senate blocked votes on the measures.
But, unfortunately, Democrats took control of the state Legislature in January for the first time in nearly four decades and have suggested they will emphasize the gun-related policies this term. Brinks, who was already prepared to introduce legislation on this topic, stated, “We will start there, and you will see those bills introduced.” Scary thought given the current drive to make Michigan a Constitutional Carry State.
While this tragic shooting at Michigan State University has once again brought attention to the issue of gun violence in America. And, as usual, the response from Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is the introduction of gun control measures. Empty ideas with no realistic plan in sight. Same ‘ole same ‘ole.
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