On Wednesday, March 8, the Michigan House of Representatives took action to make communities around the state safer by passing the first of several bills aimed at preventing gun violence. House Bills 4138, 4142 and 4143 establish the requirement for background checks on all gun sales in Michigan.
Current Michigan law requires background checks for all handgun sales, but long guns, such as rifles and shotguns, are not subject to the requirement. HBs 4138, 4142 and 4143 amend the state’s firearms law, the Michigan Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, respectively, to ensure that all firearm sales are subject to a background check.
These bills are just the first action House Democrats plan to take to address the public health crisis of gun violence. While no single change in law or regulation will solve the issue of gun violence, House Democrats are committed to taking thoughtful, reasonable steps to keep firearms out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others.