LANSING – Tired of watching gun violence disrupt their lives, shooting survivors were joined by public officials, clergy and others to demand that legislators take action to create a safer world for everyone.
The speakers were joined by members of End Gun Violence Michigan, a coalition working for common sense gun reforms, either through the legislature or via a ballot initiative. A hundred and fifty volunteers from all across the state gathered in Lansing to demand reform. Members held 45 lobby meetings. On stage, they were represented by the Episcopal Bishop of Northern Michigan Rayford Ray, State Representative Brenda Carter, March for Our Lives organizers Jayanti Gupta & Zoey Rector-Brooks and Adrienne Trupiano, who has witnessed three workplace shootings.
The group is in Lansing to demand sensible reforms that have been proven to reduce gun violence, including universal background checks, safe storage laws, extreme risk protection orders (red flag flaws) and a ban on guns in government buildings.
“As a student, I am exhausted and terrified of being told that I need to prepare for mass shootings,” said Jayanti Gupta, a student at Troy International Academy.
“We are using the very textbooks and pencils that should be teaching us the joys of learning as weapons of self-preservation at a moment’s notice,” Gupta added.
Rep. Carter (D-Pontiac), a leader on gun violence legislation in Lansing who has lost family members to gun violence, called on her legislative colleagues to give reforms such as universal background checks a hearing.
“The people of Michigan deserve to know where their elected officials stand in protecting this state,” she said. “We as elected officials must use our platforms – our voices – to push for sensible reforms.”
