In the latest move reforming gun laws in Michigan, the legislature approved a proposal to create red flag laws in Michigan. Introduced by Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), the bill allows a court to issue an “Extreme Risk Protection Order” (ERPO) to temporarily intervene to suspend a person’s access to firearms if they show clear warning signs of violence and pose an immediate threat to themselves or others. The bill will be sent to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for her consideration.
ERPOs allow loved ones or law enforcement to ask a court to temporarily order the removal of guns from an individual who is at risk of harming themselves or others. Nineteen states and Washington D.C. currently have red flag laws in place.
The legislature previously passed safe storage laws and universal background checks. This was the third prong in the Democratic Caucuses’ recent set of proposals to make reforms to firearm laws in the state.
