Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force convened for its inaugural meeting on October 21, as part of an initiative outlined in Executive Order 2024-4 by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The task force aims to address the causes of gun violence, gather data, and recommend life-saving policies.

Under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the task force comprises state department directors, medical experts, law enforcement professionals, tribal representatives, and academic researchers. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive and chair of the task force, emphasized the importance of tackling gun violence as a public health issue to ensure safety for Michigan families.

Governor Whitmer's establishment of the task force continues her administration’s efforts against firearm-related injuries and deaths. In 2023, she signed significant firearm injury prevention laws. These included universal background checks for all firearm purchases in April 2023 and safe storage requirements when minors are present. Additionally, extreme risk protection orders were introduced in May 2023 to allow temporary confiscation of firearms from individuals deemed a threat. Further legislation was enacted in November 2023 banning those convicted of domestic violence from possessing firearms for eight years post-sentencing.

Task Force member Kym Worthy, Wayne County prosecutor, expressed enthusiasm about addressing gun violence issues such as support services for victims and survivors, racial disparities, trauma effects, politicization hindering solutions, and data collection needs.

April Zeoli from the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention noted her commitment to research-driven strategies to prevent firearm violence and highlighted the collaborative effort by experts within the task force.

Alia Harvey-Quinn from FORCE Detroit commended Governor Whitmer's leadership against gun violence and advocated for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs as effective bipartisan solutions that empower frontline workers combating gun violence.