Whitmer creates task force to combat gun violence in Michigan

Governor Gretchen Whitmer establishes a Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to address and reduce gun violence in the state.

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The announcement comes less than a week after nine people were injured in a mass shooting at a water playground in Rochester Hills.

“Michigan residents have a right to feel safe wherever they go – whether they are picking up their children from school or shopping for groceries for the week ahead,” Whitmer said in a statement after signing the executive order on Thursday.

The Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce is expected to identify the root causes of gun violence, collect and report relevant data, and recommend policy changes, the executive order said.

“We must evaluate what we have done, what we are doing, and what we can still do to reduce gun violence and save lives,” the order says.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were just over 1,500 firearm-related deaths in Michigan in 2022.

The task force will serve as an advisory group to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The group is comprised of representatives from various state agencies and other stakeholders.

“This includes experts and community leaders working together to find effective ways to reduce gun violence,” said Maya Manuel, organizer with the End Gun Violence in Michigan Coalition.

Following the February 13 mass murder at Michigan State University, Manuel founded Sitdown MSU, a student-led organization dedicated to ending gun violence.

“I really hope people see this as an effective solution,” Manuel said. “And potentially this can consolidate the work into one place in Michigan.”

Those interested in joining the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force can apply online until July 18.

Reporting by Michelle Jokisch Polo, WKAR Public Media

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