Governor Whitmer’s New Legislation Means THESE Michigan Residents Can’t Own Guns

It's been one month since Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed new legislation that took a step closer to getting guns away from those who have been convicted of domestic abuse. The legislation went into affect in late November and was an accomplishment, as she said, for the state:

Keeping Michiganders – especially young women – safe and healthy is a top priority, and these bills will take long overdue steps to protect individuals from abuse. As a former prosecutor and as governor, I am proud to sign this bipartisan legislation to prevent abusers from accessing firearms. Together, we can make Michigan a safe and welcoming place for everyone.

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Who Can't Legally Own A Gun In Michigan?

According to the new legislation, a more descriptive explanation of who is not allowed to own a firearm was explained:

House Bill 4945 updates the sentencing guidelines to prohibit those convicted of domestic violence from buying or owning a gun or ammunition for eight years. Senate Bill 471 prohibits the possession or use of firearms and ammunition by persons convicted of a misdemeanor involving domestic violence. Senate Bill 528 defines additional domestic violence offenses that result in disqualification.

Domestic Abuse Rates In Michigan

Michigan is starting to look like the Domestic Abuse trend is going down, but as Michigan Advance points out, there's still a long way to go:

Annual data from Michigan State Police shows a stark decrease in the number of domestic violence victims from 101,171 reported in 2010, to 69,765 in 2022. However, fatalities rose during the same period from 89 deaths in 2010 to 101 in 2022, despite the decline.