By Dave Workman
Almost as predictable as rain in Seattle, the Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, created by Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last year, has issued a final report recommending a list of gun control measures.
The Task Force consisted of 11 people with ten others identified as “ex-officio.” There is not a single representative from any state gun owner organization, nor does it appear the task force included representation from any national Second Amendment group. Participation from gun owners was limited to subcommittees.
Bridge Michigan is quoting Brenden Boudreau, director of Great Lakes Gun Rights, who said there should have been gun owner representation on the panel.
“I’m not surprised by anything produced by this task force,” he reportedly stated.
He complained the report is “partisan” and from an administration “hostile to the rights of Michiganders to keep and bear arms.”
Yet, the Task Force was asked to accomplish several things, including “Engage stakeholders such as local government officials, individuals with relevant lived experiences related to gun violence, medical professionals, research institutions, law enforcement and community organizations, to solicit their expertise and opinions to best inform the task force’s mission.”
Apparently, Michigan gun owners aren’t considered “stakeholders.”
Only among the subcommittees was there any representation from the firearms community. According to the report, the subcommittees “had more than 100 people serving as members, with representation from: Governmental offices.
State and local health departments.
Advocacy organizations.
Community-based service providers.
People with lived experience.
Lawyers and legal professionals.
Law enforcement.
Medical professionals.
Students.
Gun rights groups.
Firearm owner coalitions.
Firearm safety instructors.
Superintendents and school personnel.
Faith-based communities and organizations.
Organizations working with Native American populations.
Organizations working with Black populations.
Organizations working with LGBTQ+ populations.
There are reportedly 39 recommendations from the Task Force. These include a ban on so-called “assault weapons,” waiting periods for all firearm purchases, ban so-called “large-capacity magazines,” ban “ghost guns,” allow lawsuits against the firearms industry, prohibit carry in government buildings, ban “automatic conversion devices,” and raise the minimum age for gun purchases to 21. It’s essentially the “wish list” of every gun prohibition lobbying group in the nation.
The Alpena News goes in to greater depth about the report, which spans 50 pages. According to Alpena News, “Housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, task force membership reflects a wide range of expertise and lived experience. The University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention provided research and programmatic support for task force work.”
Workman is editor-in-chief at TheGunMag.com
