LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force finally gathered for its first meeting on Monday, October 21st, following Governor Whitmer’s June Executive Order 2024-4 which has created what is now a 21-member group.

The Task Force, housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), is made up of experts from various fields, from law enforcement to health care to academic researchers, all with one mission: reducing firearm-related deaths and injuries.

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The governor outlines in her Executive Order that the Task Force will do this by reviewing, developing and recommending laws, policies and many other legally permissible actions to reduce the rates and instances of gun violence in the state.

Targeting root causes, not just symptoms.

According to the press release about the meeting, the Task Force is digging into the deep roots of gun violence, examining everything from community disparities to trauma effects.

Kym Worthy, Wayne County’s prosecutor, emphasized the Task Force’s need to address both primary and secondary trauma caused by gun violence, as well as the often-overlooked victims, saying, “gun violence has been politicized leading to the stoppage of real and common sense solutions.” She added that a “collection of real Michigan data, and the many other issues that must be parsed by this group” will be done in order to achieve levels of success.

Gun violence as a public health crisis.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s Chief Medical Executive and Task Force Chair, said about the severity of the issue, “Gun violence is the leading cause of death in children in our state and across the country – now is the time to address gun violence as a public health issue, and Michigan families deserve to feel safe whether they are at work, school or walking down the street.”

Will they make a difference?

As Michigan’s Gun Violence Prevention Task Force works to some up with solutions and help craft new legislation to curb gun violence, confidence in existing measures, like the state’s “red-flag law,” remains dismally low among local officials.

A University of Michigan survey released this month found that only a fraction of county prosecutors, sheriffs, and local government officials believe the red-flag law will make a meaningful dent in reducing violence. This skepticism is rooted not only in questions about the law’s efficacy but also in the lack of structured training for law enforcement officers, who may struggle to identify appropriate situations for Extreme Risk Protection Orders or understand the procedural requirements for petitioning a court to issue one.