Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed commonsense gun violence prevention bills establishing extreme risk protection orders in Michigan, ensuring police officers, health care professionals, and family members concerned about someone who may harm themselves or others can seek a court order to temporarily confiscate their firearms. At the bill signing, Governor Whitmer was joined by bill sponsors, legislators, public safety advocates, and law enforcement officials.
“No Michigander should fear going to school, work, the grocery store, or their own home because of gun violence,” said Governor Whitmer. “Extreme risk protection orders have been proven to reduce suicides, save lives, and keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and violent criminals. I am proud to sign this legislation to keep Michiganders safe, and I want to thank my partners in the legislature for getting this done, the advocates who fought so hard to make this happen, and every Michigander who works hard to build safe communities where everyone can thrive. Only thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. Let’s keep taking commonsense action to reduce gun violence and keep families and communities safe.”
“Too many Michiganders have lost people they love to the senseless tragedy of gun violence,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Today, we are taking action to save lives, prevent tragedies, and protect communities. Extreme risk protection orders, safe storage laws, and universal background checks will save lives and help keep families and kids safe at home, in the streets, at school, and at work. Governor Whitmer and I will continue investing in public safety and working with anyone to prevent gun violence.”
Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bill 83 and House Bills 4146, 4147, and 4148.
Senate Bill 83, sponsored by state Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), enacts the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to allow specified individuals, such as a spouse or family member, to request that a circuit court enter an extreme risk protection order for an individual. If the court determines the individual poses a significant risk of personal injury to himself or herself or others by possessing a firearm, the extreme risk protection order would prohibit the restrained individual from possessing or purchasing a firearm, among other prohibitions, while the order is in effect.
House Bill 4146, sponsored by state Representative Kelly Breen (D-Novi), prohibits an individual who was subject to an extreme risk protection order from qualifying for a pistol license and a concealed pistol license.
House Bill 4147, sponsored by state Representative Julie Brixie (D-Okemos), amends the Revised Judicature Act to create specified exemptions when processing or filing a civil action for the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act.
House Bill 4148, sponsored by State Representative Stephanie A. Young (D-Detroit) amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to add the felonies proposed in Senate Bill 83 to the Code’s sentencing guidelines.
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