On Thursday Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed new laws aimed at gun reform in that state.
The laws included mandatory state-wide background checks ahead of purchases, and gun owners will be required to safely store all firearms and ammunition when around minors.
The signing took place on the campus of Michigan State University, the scene of a deadly mass shooting two months ago.
A gunman opened fire on the East Lansing campus on February 13, killing three people and wounding five more. He shot and killed himself miles away after an hours-long manhunt involving hundreds of police officers.
On Twitter, Whitmer wrote, “This morning, I was on @Michiganstateu campus where just 8 weeks ago, we lost 3 Spartans to gun violence. The entire MSU community is still healing, but we dug deep and worked together to take action. And today, I’m proud to sign gun safety legislation that will save lives.”
She added, “The time for only thoughts and prayers is over. Our communities deserve action—and today we took a huge step forward.”
The February in East Lansing was the 88th mass shooting in the U.S. in 2023 just six weeks into the year, as defined by four or more victims killed or wounded, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Since then, there have been at least 60 more mass shootings, including the March 27 massacre at a Christian school in Nashville that killed three 9-year-olds and three adults.
There have been at least 148 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year.
Upon signing the Michigan gun laws, Whitmer told a group of more than 100 people gathered around her on the university campus, “We don’t have to live like this and today, we are showing we are not going to anymore.”
