A new coalition is urging the Michigan Legislature to tackle the epidemic of gun violence. Michigan ranks 21st for overall gun homicides, though that number is far greater when race is factored in – the state ranks ninth for gun homicides of Black residents. Despite polls showing what’s known as commonsense gun legislation is popular, the Legislature has not advanced such measures such as red-flag laws and safe gun-storage laws. Mia Reid founded the Charles W. Reid Community Help Center in Detroit, named after her son, who was killed by gun violence in 2011. She says there’s no time to waste.
“There are lots of other great ideas that can also reduce gun violence, too – like increasing mental health funding, returning citizen reentry programs, violence intervention, and so much more. And we support all of these.”
The coalition, called End Gun Violence Michigan, says if the Legislature doesn’t act in the next year, it will launch an initiative campaign to put gun-control laws on the ballot. Valentine’s Day marked four years since the Parkland school shooting in Florida.
