Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee takes up 11-bill gun violence prevention package, hears supportive testimony from MSU, Oxford victims and families, law enforcement officials
EDITOR’S NOTE: Photos of Sen. Hertel testifying are attached and video of his testimony is available here.
LANSING, Mich. (March 2, 2023) — Today, Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) testified before the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Senate Bill 76, his legislation to require universal background checks to close the private sale loophole.
“All of us can agree that people with certain criminal histories or who are a danger to themselves or others should not be able to purchase firearms,” said Sen. Hertel. “Currently under the law, different types of firearm sales are treated differently at point of sale based on the weapon and the seller. This bill would simply require that all people who are purchasing firearms have had a recent background check to ensure they are lawfully allowed to purchase them.”
Sen. Hertel’s bill is part of a broader 11-bill gun violence prevention package introduced by Senate Democrats to encourage gun safety and help prevent acts of violence like the shootings at Michigan State University on Feb. 13, and Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. In addition to establishing universal background checks, the legislation also creates secure storage laws to keep legal firearms out of the hands of children and teens and allows a court to issue an “Extreme Risk Protection Order” (ERPO) to take temporary possession of a firearm if the court finds that an individual is at risk of harming themselves or others.
The committee also heard supportive testimony on the legislative package from a number of gun violence victims and family members, including students and parents from Michigan State University. Attorney General Dana Nessel and a number of county prosecutors also spoke in support of the bills.
Closing loopholes that allow the acquisition of firearms for criminal purposes will benefit all Michiganders. This legislation ensures that background checks are required for all firearms sales to reduce gun violence, save lives and keep our communities safe. Background checks for all firearm sales are a common-sense way to keep guns out of the wrong hands.
After Connecticut adopted universal background checks in their licensing law, there was a 40% drop in gun homicides and a 15% drop in gun suicides. Studies show that 84% of voters, including 83% of gun owners, support requiring all gun purchasers to go through a background check.
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