Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel | michigan.gov
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel | michigan.gov
State leaders are hoping a new initiative will help reduce gun violence across Michigan.
The program goes by the name Operation Safe Neighborhoods, and its objective is to get illegal guns out of the hands of people who do not have legal authorization to possess a firearm due to their criminal history; a recent press release from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office said.
“I have partnered with attorneys general across our country to address the proliferation of illegal firearms and get these weapons off our streets,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in the release. “People who circumvent the legal process for obtaining a firearm pose a serious threat to our communities. I will continue to enforce the law and hold criminals accountable.”
The measure is intended to contribute to Whitmer's MI Safe Communities program that was established in the summer of 2021 with a mission of getting illegal guns off the street and directing more money toward education, jobs and the justice system.
“Every person in Michigan, no matter where they live or who they are, deserves to live freely and safely in a way that enables them to be their best selves,” Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II said in the release. “When we take real action to support police-community relationships, we can put in place policies that prevent crime in the first place. I am encouraged to see this progress. We look forward to continuing to invest in all of the mechanisms available to us to create communities where every person feels safe, with their needs met, knowing that the state of Michigan is invested in their future.”
During the first half of 2022, more than 450 people in Michigan have died as a result of gun violence. When violent crimes are reported in the state, approximately one in three involve a firearm.
“Our troopers see the deadly results and devastating impact illegal guns have on communities every day, and I commend the Michigan Department of Corrections for their work,” Col. Joe Gasper, director of the Michigan State Police, said in the release.
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