DETROIT – Gun violence and common sense gun legislation were top of mind inside a church on Detroit’s east side.
A dozen members of Michigan’s House of Representatives met with faith leaders and Detroiters on Monday, March 6, where Democrats said momentum is building.
“Safe storage, universal background checks, and red flag laws, these bills must be passed,” said Barry Randolph, pastor of Church of Messiah Abraham Aiyash, Majority Floor Leader, 9th House District.
Speaking from the pulpit, faith-based leaders and Democrats called for common-sense gun reform.
“It’s not just Uvalde, Oxford, and Michigan State, it’s Conner, Harper and Gratiot,” Randolph said.
Tawana Rankin’s 15-year-old daughter, Jada, was shot and killed nearly seven years ago.
“Until it hits your front door, you have no idea how this feels,” Rankin said.
Rankin started a non-profit to help victims of gun violence, and says politicians in Lansing need to do more than deliver passionate speeches.
“I’m trying to decide what is the truth, what is and isn’t going to happen, because I am that parent that knows other parents are waiting on justice,” Rankin said.
Priya Mann: “Do you believe what you’re hearing?”
Rankin: “No, honestly.”
“They’re absolutely right,” said State Representative Joe Tate. “There should be some skepticism, at the end of the day, in the past, they saw legislation like this not move at all. We will be by them, side-by-side, in terms of getting that common sense gun legislation across the finish line.”
“We have been losing, our children have been dying for years,” Rankin said. “So Democrats these four rounds, Republicans the next four rounds, and it’s just history, it just goes and goes and goes.”
Tate said he expects to push bills forward through the House this week. Similar bills are going through the Senate right now.
