Thread by @MISenDems

Sen. @rosemarybayer on the Oxford HS shooting in her district: "It’s been more than 2mos since that day, & sadly, more than 7mos since legislation was intro'd in the House & Senate that, had it been acted on, might have made a difference in the outcome." #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 1/

Sen. @rosemarybayer on how SBs 550-553 & HBs 5066-5069 would save lives:

"These are bills that would require guns to be stored safely to prevent injury & provide criminal penalties if failure to safely store a gun results in injury or death." #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 2/

"Guns would have to be kept in a secure lockbox, in a location a reasonable person would believe is secure, or securely locked w/ a locking device.

We are all safer when guns are stored unloaded, locked & separate from ammunition." — Sen. @rosemarybayer #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 3/

.@MIAttyGen @dananessel at the Secure Firearm Storage Press Conference: "It remains unconscionable that our gun laws do not include commonsense safety measures. Thoughts & prayers ultimately fall short. We must act properly to address gun violence in our schools." #MiLeg 4/

"We need to prioritize our kids over our guns. The bills currently in the #MiLeg would require safe storage of a gun where children are present. It’s the right thing to do & I am committed to seeing this delivered to @GovWhitmer & signed into law." — @MIAttyGen @dananessel 6/

"We also need to enforce laws currently on the books that punish those who post or call in threats of violence at or near a school. When admins are forced to shut down schools, students miss valuable days of instruction. This cannot continue." — @MIAttyGen @dananessel #MILeg 7/

"I recently released a video that highlights the seriousness of making threats against schools. These are, essentially, terrorist threats and will be treated as such." — @MIAttyGen @dananessel #EndGunViolence #MILeg 8/

https://twitter.com/MIAttyGen/status/1478428712534167553?s=20&t=qg-5zRAVO5j3xLO2oREV2w

"We cannot avoid our responsibilities as policymakers & elected leaders & expect things to change. The safety of our children is an issue upon which we can all agree. The time to advance this legislation is now." — @MIAttyGen @dananessel #MILeg #EndGunViolence 9/

Rep. @MariManoogian at the Secure Firearm Storage Press Conference: "I have worked on commonsense reforms like safe firearm storage for 3 yrs, & my reasons for doing so have never been clearer than after the events of Nov. 30th, 2021." #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 10/

"We must pass legislation here in Michigan to require individuals who purchase firearms to keep those firearms stored in a manner consistent with how deadly they can be." —Rep. @MariManoogian #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 11/

"In June 2021, we introduced HBs 5066-5069 and SBs 550-553 – ensuring that firearms purchased by Michiganders would have to be stored away safely or secured with a proper gun lock." — Rep. @MariManoogian #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 12/

"This legislation could have helped to prevent exactly the type of tragedy seen at Oxford HS. A safely stored firearm would never have made it into a child’s hands. It would never have been taken out of a home without either parent’s knowledge." — Rep. @MariManoogian #MiLeg 13/

"And it could never have been used to tragically end the lives of four Michiganders – children whose parents and siblings didn’t know that that morning would be their last hug goodbye." — Rep. @MariManoogian #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 14/

"Responsible gun owners and firearms safety advocates agree that committing to safe and secure firearm storage is the best way we can ensure that lives are saved." — Rep. @MariManoogian #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 15/

"To the survivors listening: your safety matters, & we will not rest until this legislation addresses this crisis.

To @MI_Republicans, we again ask for these bills to be brought up in committee to keep our communities safe from gun violence." — Rep. @MariManoogian #MILeg 16/

.@jonathanagold: "My 2A rights & supporting practical gun safety measures aren’t mutually exclusive. That’s why I joined @GiffordsCourage Gun Owners for Safety — hunters, sport shooters, concealed carriers & collectors, who support responsible gun ownership & laws." #MiLeg 17/

"Each year, more than a thousand Michiganders die from gun violence. And many of those deaths are preventable. We know that there are concrete steps we can take to reduce gun violence." — @jonathanagold #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 18/

"We all understand that Michigan needs to do more to protect its children and families. #EnoughIsEnough — Michiganders are dying! It is time that everyone gets to work and address gun violence." — @jonathanagold #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 19/

"The Oxford school shooting was not the first. In fact, horrifically as many know, it’s one of many tragic, needless incidents.

So why are we not trying harder to stop it?"— Reina, Oxford High School student #MiLeg #OxfordStrong 20/

"The system that allowed the shooter access to a firearm is the same system that failed Hana, Justin, Tate, & Madisyn. There is no reason, no excuse, for all of them to not be here. To have their futures taken away."— Reina, Oxford HS student #MiLeg #OxfordStrong 21/

"The safe storage bill was introduced last spring. This is a commonsense bill that could have prevented the Oxford tragedy. I have difficulty understanding why this had not been passed & implemented.

It could have saved my sister."— Reina, Oxford student #MiLeg 22/

"The next steps shouldn't be training kids to barricade doors, hide in corners, & live in fear. The next step must be to pass laws & create the change that will prevent this from happening again.

Don’t let another kid lose their life this way."— Reina, Oxford student #MiLeg 23/

"As I’ve said time and again, we as legislators have a duty to our constituents to ensure safe and healthy communities. It is an issue that binds us all regardless of background or ideology." — Sen. @rosemarybayer #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 24/

"Personally, I am tired of accepting the status quo.

I am tired of thoughts and prayers, especially when we are granted the privilege of being able to do something and make a difference every day we come into this building." — Sen. @rosemarybayer #MiLeg #EndGunViolence 25/

Sen. @rosemarybayer wrapping up the Secure Firearm Storage press conf:

"I am calling on my colleagues who are in the majority in the #MiLeg to show some empathy for those who are suffering, have suffered, or who will suffer from gun violence." #EndGunViolence 26/26