By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Democrat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is talking about gun control as she heads into her second term, which will be helped by Democrat majorities in both the state House and Senate.
According to Bridge Michigan, “the governor is…gearing up to take on long-discussed Democratic priorities, including gun control measures she embraced after last year’s fatal shooting at Oxford High School, where a student used a handgun his father had recently purchased to murder four classmates and injure others.”
The news agency said gun control measures previously blocked by the GOP-led Legislature was aimed at so-called “safe storage.” If the measure is reintroduced, it will require adult gun owners with children to store their guns in a “secure lockbox.” Violations could bring a five-year prison term if a minor gets hold of a gun and injures or kill themselves or others.
There is also a proposed “red flag” law allowing judges to issue “extreme risk protection orders” that may be used to disarm people who allegedly present a danger to themselves or others.
Whitmer is also a proponent of universal background checks, so people can’t make private sales without a background check. She told a reporter these ideas are “proven” policies, a contention that might get an argument from gun rights activists who insist criminals do not bother with background checks of any kind.
Whitmer will likely get a tough fight from Republicans on all of these issues. Incoming Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt is already promising stiff opposition.
This year, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, more than 460,000 people bought Michigan hunting licenses this year. Also, according to an updated report on concealed carry from the Crime Prevention Research Center, as of July 1 this year, Michigan had 788,532 active concealed carry licenses. That many gun owners—even considering the likelihood of overlap—could pose a major obstacle to an ambitious gun control agenda.
