LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michiganders will be subjected to stricter gun laws after several laws go into effect on the anniversary of the shooting that took place at Michigan State University February 13, 2023. 

Bills signed last spring.

Last spring, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a series of bills including expanding background checks, implementing safe storage laws, and Red Flag laws which will go into effect beginning Tuesday. 

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“No Michigander should fear going to school, work, the grocery store, or their own home because of gun violence,” said Governor Whitmer at the Red Flag law signing. “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.”

Safe storage of firearms.

The law would require gun owners with a minor in the home to store firearms in a locked container or with a trigger lock. 

Licensing of firearms.

The law requires a criminal background check and registration for any firearm purchase, expanding the background check to include rifles and shotguns. 

Red Flag laws.

Red Flag laws, known as Extreme Risk Protection Orders, (ERPOs) would enable some family members, former dating partners, and health professionals to seek court ordered removal of firearms from individuals deemed unable to possess them because they pose a “threat to themselves and others.” 

According to Everytown Research, 21 states have adopted variations of the law to date. 

“Researchers have estimated that one suicide is averted for every ten Extreme Risk orders in a Connecticut study — and found the policy is associated with a 7.5% drop in the gun suicide rate in Indiana,” according to the group. 

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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel praised the passage of ERPO laws. 

“What if we had laws in place where you could turn in a family member and know that that person wasn’t necessarily going be arrested or prosecuted but you certainly would want to be able to remove guns from a person who really is not in a legal state or mental mind frame to be possessing those weapons,” Nessel said. 

Firearm experts express concerns about new laws.

Rick Ector, a firearms instructor from Detroit, and National Rifle Association Board Director, expressed his concerns for the new laws. 

“The thing that’s most troubling to me about the law is it’s strictly punitive, they are only focusing on punishment after the fact,” Ector said in an interview with Michigan News Source.  “My concern is why aren’t they being more proactive? Why aren’t we introducing young people to firearms like we’ve done in generations past?” 

He also singled out the Red Flag laws as “the most draconian law ever enacted in the state of Michigan.” 

“We’re talking about the elimination of due process, this law would enable someone to come up with unfounded allegations and to facilitate a secret court proceeding without the accused being afforded their right to know of charges that have been leveled against them,” he said in the interview. 

Ector shared what could happen if someone was charged with an ERPO during a court proceeding without their knowledge. 

“If one of these orders goes in, there’s going to be an armed cadre of officers to storm their residence on a raid to get their guns.” he said in the interview. “If that person is lucky, they won’t think they are suffering a home invasion and reach for a gun and get shot and killed.” 

Gun law education course this weekend.

To help clarify the new laws going into effect, Ector is offering a free education course this Saturday. 

“What I’m doing is I’m providing free training for individuals who at least want to know about these laws in greater detail, explain to them what situation could trigger them to be subject ot these laws, what the potential penalties are, and to make sure that they’re empowered to make a best determination of how they go forward,” he said to MNS. 

The event will be held at Liberty General Baptist Church in Auburn Hills, MI.