HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2018.07.19 - 23667MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #18267
BY: Commissioner Marcia Gershenson, District #13;
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORT OF MICHIGAN SENATE BILL 293, ENHANCED
PENALTIES FOR NEGLIGENT FAILURE TO SECURE FIREARMS RESULTING IN HARM TO
CHILDREN
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS firearms in the home pose a clear risk to the safety of children, and when those guns are not
stored safely or securely, the risk only increases, resulting in tragic shootings, including unintentional
discharges and suicides, that are all too common in America today; and
WHEREAS Child Access Prevention (CAP) laws hold gun owners accountable for the safe storage of
firearms, imposing liability for failing to take simple yet important measures to prevent guns from falling into
young hands; and
WHEREAS CAP laws are an important tool for reducing preventable shootings and suicides by our
country's youth; and
WHEREAS State Senators Warren and Young recently introduced Senate Bill No. 293, to establish
penalties for storing or leaving a firearm where it is accessible to a minor; and
WHEREAS a study by the RAND Corporation of firearm storage patterns in U.S. homes found that "[of the
homes with children and firearms, 55% were reported to have 1 or more firearms in an unlocked place,"
and 43% reported keeping guns without a trigger lock in an unlocked place"; and
WHEREAS a 2005 study conducted by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in conjunction with
the Centers for Disease Control on adult firearm storage practices in U.S. homes found that over 1.69
million children and youth under age 18 are living in homes with loaded and unlocked firearms; and
WHEREAS a 1999 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that more
than 75% of the guns used in youth suicide attempts and unintentional injuries were stored in the residence
of the victim, a relative, or a friend; and
WHEREAS a survey by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found that 54% of
American gun-owners do not store their firearms safely; and
WHEREAS John Hopkins researchers classified secure storage as locked in a gun safe, cabinet or case,
locked into a gun rack, or stored with a trigger lock or other device; and
WHEREAS now, more than ever, Oakland County constituents are demanding leadership from elected
leaders at all levels of government on the critical issue of preventing gun violence and ensuring the safety
of our children.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby declares
their support of Senate Bill 293 and urges the Michigan legislature to adopt this important public safety
legislation without further delay.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of this adopted resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan, the Lt. Governor of the State of
Michigan, the Oakland County members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the members of the
Oakland County delegation to the Michigan Legislature, and the members of the Michigan House Judiciary
Committee.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissioner Marcia Oldrshenson
District #13
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Resolution #18267 July 19, 2018
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.