Detroit Evening Report: Michigan Legislature introduces bills to limit gun access for convicted domestic violence abusers

Michigan lawmakers introduced legislation on Thursday to restrict gun access for those convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors.

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According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, if a gun is present in a domestic violence situation, the rate of homicide exponentially increases by 500%.

Michigan’s current law states those convicted of a felony are prohibited from possessing, carrying or selling firearms for a three-year period. The proposed legislation would extend firearm bans on offenders to eight years after they fully complete their sentence.

State Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), who sponsored Senate Bills 471 and 472, said the proposed changes came from gun violence prevention experts.

“I have been working with domestic and gun violence prevention experts for years to address the issue of domestic violence and firearms, because too many survivors face dramatically increased risk from their abusers,” Chang said in a statement. “We’ve seen how firearms and domestic violence are a dangerous combination, yet our current state laws leave open a loophole that can be exploited by abusers to obtain a firearm and wreak deadly havoc. This legislation has had bipartisan support for many years and serves as a common-sense solution to the problem and will protect survivors in our state from further abuse.”

Other headlines for Sept. 8, 2023:

• Detroit program to invest $58 million to provide affordable housing services
• Refugee Film Festival will make its Michigan debut on Sept. 14
• Detroit tradition Dally in the Alley returns to Cass Corridor this weekend

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