Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Releases Recommendations

The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force has unveiled its first set of recommendations aimed at reducing firearm-related deaths and injuries across the state. The report outlines a comprehensive public health approach to address gun violence and was praised by state leaders for its potential to save lives and enhance community safety.

“These initial recommendations outline solutions that will save lives and prevent needless tragedies. Over the next six months the task force will look at ways to practically implement these recommendations,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive and chair of the Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. “Gun violence is the leading cause of death in children across the country and, as such, we must address it as a public health issue.”

The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force was created under Executive Order 2024-4, signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Task force members are charged with identifying root causes of gun violence, compiling and reporting relevant data, maximizing existing resources, soliciting perspectives from diverse community partners and recommending policies to save lives across the state. Developed over the last five months, task force recommendations address firearmsrelated suicide, community violence, school safety, intimate partner violence and implementation of existing legislation. Housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), task force membership reflects a wide range of community partners, including state department directors, medical experts, law enforcement professionals, tribal representatives, academic researchers and more.  

Recommendations include:

• Develop funding mechanisms for the implementation of the task force recommendations. 

• Create a workgroup to implement the recommendations that includes directors or their representatives from various governmental agencies and non-government entities and organizations to increase the capacity and impact of firearm injury prevention programs and research. 

• Improve access to out-of-home safe storage options for firearms for families with someone in crisis. 

• Build a coordinated, community-driven collaboration (holistic ecosystem) and share best practices to support community violence intervention leaders and prevention partners across the state. 

• Create a standard definition of a school resource officer with ongoing training and education. 

• Amend the law to ensure that safe surrender and relinquishment of an illegal firearm in Personal Protection Orders, Misdemeanor Convictions for Domestic Violence and Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) cases hold no legal liability unless connected with a crime. 

• Standardize statewide law enforcement and court processes and protocols around ERPO and require all law enforcement agencies to have an ERPO protocol.  

• Update existing legislation that requires relinquishment, removal and storage of firearms after the firearm possession ban. 

• Clarify the process of temporary transfers of firearms when someone is in crisis or at risk, so that those engaged in these transfers are not in violation of the law.