Democrats at the state Capitol are calling for background checks on everyone who buys a firearm. That would include in-store purchases and person-to-person sales.
They say that would help ensure that people prone to violence won’t be able to legally get hold of a firearm.
State Rep. Tim Griemel, D-Auburn Hills, says the state should require checks for in-store and person-to-person gun sales.
“This is the best, most common-sense way to ensure that guns are not in the hands of those who are prone to violence,” he said.
Republicans are not on board.
“People that are mentally ill that shouldn’t have firearms, we want to do everything we can that they don’t have them, but it’s a delicate balance. We want to ensure that law-abiding citizens constitutional rights are being upheld,” said House Speaker Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt.
Leonard says he’s focused on improving mental health services. Other Republicans have called for allowing teachers and other school personnel access to firearms. Schools are currently designated as gun-free zones.
