The state House held a special session Wednesday, February 15, to honor the students who were murdered or injured in Monday’s shooting at Michigan State University.
“We failed you.” That phrase was used multiple times as Democrats told students who crowded into the House gallery that more should have and could have been done.
Representative Brenda Carter said the purpose was not only to honor the victims and first responders but also to make a promise:
“To take action! So it won’t happen again! And to set a goal: we can and we will end gun violence in Michigan," Carter proclaimed.
Democrats called for new gun safety measures. Republicans have resisted new gun restrictions, arguing that many existing laws aren’t well enforced. Representative Graham Filler is the senior Republican on the House Criminal Justice Committee.
“You have individuals who have illegal firearms or firearms they sort of laundered through the market and it’s impossible to stop a really bad person from doing really bad things," Filler said. "You can put up barriers and do your best, but really bad people do really bad illegal things.”
Representative Laurie Pohutsky called attention to MSU students watching from the House gallery.
“Talk to the MSU survivors surrounding us in the gallery and ask them what they want in this moment. They don’t want our condolences. They do not want our thoughts and prayers. They want us to take action," Pohutsky said.
The House Democratic majority is drafting bills to require universal background checks, locked gun storage, and a red flag law. Those could be introduced as soon as next week.
