Michigan legislators discuss plan of action following shooting that killed 3 MSU students

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WWMT) — Democrats and Republicans are sharing condolences on social media to the families of students who lost their loved ones in Monday's mass shooting at Michigan State University.

Both sides agree there needs to be change, stating shootings are happening too often in the country and the pain is becoming all too familiar.

“President Biden and I spoke last night," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. "He pledged his support and thoughts of an entire nation.”

With shootings occurring more frequently across the country, Michigan Democrats along with Whitmer have advocated for a few gun control bills, some of which Republicans have indicated interest in.

Gun control bills introduced include universal background checks, safe gun storage requirements and red flag laws, which would allow a court to determine if a weapon should be taken from someone potentially at risk of injuring themselves or others.

However, Democrats have very slim majorities in both chambers, making stronger gun measures harder to pass.

“Proposing bills that don’t address the root causes of this I’m afraid is just as bad as doing nothing," said Aric Nesbitt, Senate minority leader.

Nesbitt said he is focused on getting to the root of the issue.

It seems to me like we need to start by allowing prosecutors, or forcing our prosecutors instead to actually do these convictions and follow through with those that are currently disobeying our gun laws," Nesbitt said.

Feb. 14 also marked five years since a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which took the lives of 17 students and staff.

“If this isn’t a wakeup call, I don’t know what is," Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin said. "I would say that you either care about protecting kids or you don’t. You either care about having an open honest conversation about what is going on in our society or you don’t.”

The shooter, 43-year-old Anthony McRae, had no affiliation to the university, according to police.

That was the disturbing thing, hearing that, as well, no connection, it is not like he was aggrieved from fellow students or a professor, he picked a place where people were," Republican Congressman Bill Huizenga said. "That is the evil behind shootings."

The governor is extending her heart to the Spartan community.

“We mourn the loss of beautiful souls today and pray for those who continue to fight for their lives," Whitmer said. “Looking back at a year marked by shootings at grocery stores, parade’s and so many other ordinary situations we cannot keep living like this.”

Monday brought up horrors for Oxford students who now attend MSU, reminding them of the attack at their high school on Nov. 30, 2021, that left four students dead.

As a representative of Oxford Michigan, I cannot believe I am standing here doing this again 15 months later," Slotkin said. "I am enraged that we have to have another press conference to talk about our children being killed in their schools.”

Both sides agree addressing mental health should be a priority.

"We need to increase number of mental health professionals," Slotkin said.

Nesbitt agrees adding he believes solutions that prevent tragedies from occurring should be looked at including more security measures in schools and better mental health screenings.