New laws that strengthen safe storage of firearms and background checks on purchasers go into effect in early 2024 and are considered the most significant changes to gun safety measures in Michigan in nearly 30 years. A few weeks after these bills were signed into law, legislators sent a new proposed law to Governor Gretchen Whitmer for consideration, updating the extreme risk protection order laws in Michigan. That bill was signed into law by Governor Whitmer on Monday, May 22.

University of Michigan researchers provided evidence, including research and data on how each of these laws could save lives in and outside of the state. The background check and safe storage laws were signed into law by Governor Whitmer in mid-April.

Cynthia Ewell Foster
Cynthia Ewell Foster

Cynthia Ewell Foster is an associate professor of psychiatry at the U-M Medical School, clinical associate professor at the University Center for the Child and Family, and research associate professor at the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention. She testified before legislative committees and can discuss the background check and safe storage laws and implications in more detail.

Read Dr. Ewell Foster’s Faculty Q&A feature here

Dr. April Zeoli is the policy core director for U-M’s Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention and an associate professor of health management and policy at U-M’s School of Public Health. She testified before legislative committees and can discuss the ERPO law and implications in more detail.

Listen to Dr. Zeoli’s comments here

Additional media mentions of the data for each of the bills and how Institute faculty played a critical role in providing an evidence base to consider in discussions:

Michigan Radio – NPR (Dr. April Zeoli – background checks)

WDET 101.9 FM (Dr. April Zeoli – background checks)

Michigan Medicine (Dr. Patrick Carter – safe storage)

Detroit Free Press (Dr. April Zeoli – ERPOs)

Detroit Channel 4/Click on Detroit (Dr. Patrick Carter – ERPOs)

Politicus USA – Data highlight

Michigan Daily (Dr. April Zeoli – ERPOs)