LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Democrats have spent the past few years passing one gun law after another – and yet, somehow, the message from the left is that the job is nowhere near finished. If you’re wondering what’s left to regulate after background checks, storage mandates, red-flag orders, and other restrictions, Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls are happy to explain at an upcoming gun violence prevention forum this May.
Accepting the invitation to attend the forum ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election are Democratic gubernatorial candidates Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.
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The forum, advertised on the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Dearborn–Dearborn Heights website, is organized by End Gun Violence Michigan and sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan which is a member organization. The forum will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit.
The theme? Not rights or balance. It looks like the theme is regulation – and more of it.
Not a debate – a direction.
The forum is billed as “a unique opportunity for our community to engage directly with candidates running for governor. Each candidate will be invited to share their vision for keeping Michigan communities safe and to answer our questions about how they plan to be true champions for gun violence prevention.”
On the agenda is how the candidates plan to address protecting schools and kids, suicide prevention, community violence intervention, protecting democracy and “holding the gun industry accountable.”
There will also be a “fair” so that the attendees can sign up and get involved with local groups that are working on gun violence prevention issues.
The co-organizers include non-gun violence prevention organizations including the following Democratic organizations and progressive groups: Reproductive Freedom for All, Statewide Indivisible-Michigan (SWIM), Michigan United, and Detroit Action.
Five years of gun laws is still not enough for Democrats.
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Since 2023 alone, Democrats have delivered a sweeping gun control agenda which includes
- Mandatory safe storage requirements in homes with minors
- Universal background checks
- Red-flag orders allowing courts to temporarily strip gun rights
- Expanded firearm bans tied to domestic violence convictions
- Mandatory destruction of guns collected in buybacks
That’s a long list of Democratic “accomplishments” yet it doesn’t appear to be enough to satisfy the activists driving Democratic policy. The Michigan Gun Task Force, assembled by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, in their report has recommended a long list of proposed future actions including banning assault weapons, increasing the minimum age to buy guns to 21, civil liability for the gun industry, mandatory waiting periods for all firearm purchases, and more.
The forum doesn’t appear to be about listening to different viewpoints.
Despite the “candidate forum” label, this isn’t exactly a neutral town hall with diverse viewpoints. Hosting a debate on gun policy alongside advocacy groups already committed to tighter restrictions is less about discussion and more about virtue signaling. Add to that the fact that no Republicans are appearing at the debate and you have a one-sided forum. The underlying message is clear: if Democrats win the governor’s mansion – and control the Legislature – more gun regulations are coming. The forum simply gives candidates a chance to audition for who can push the hardest on the issue.
Who was invited and who wasn’t.
According to End Gun Violence Michigan, a 10% polling threshold was needed to be invited to the forum. The organization told Michigan Advance that none of the Republicans invited to the forum responded to their invitation. The organization, however, hasn’t said what poll they are using.
In the most recent polling data from Mitchell-MIRS conducted in November, it shows that Benson and Gilchrist meet the 10% threshold but Swanson only polled at 5% yet he is cited as attending. On the Republican side, it shows that only Republicans John James and Mike Cox met the threshold.
When Michigan News Source reached out to End Gun Violence Michigan about what poll they were using, they responded with this message, “Our standard is any public, independent poll since the announcement of the forum.”
A constitutionally inconvenient speed bump.
Michigan Democrats rarely mention the Second Amendment unless it’s framed as outdated, conditional, or subordinate to government “safety priorities.” Michigan Republicans, meanwhile, are currently pushing back – introducing legislation to roll back red-flag laws, protect due process, and stop the slow erosion of gun rights through regulatory creep. But those objections aren’t likely to get much airtime at this event.
The real takeaway.
Critics say that voters shouldn’t mistake this “gun violence prevention” forum for harmless civic engagement. Instead, they say it’s a preview. A roadmap. A promise that even after years of sweeping gun legislation, Democrats believe Michigan needs more control, more limits, and more government oversight – all while insisting they’re not coming for your rights. They already passed the laws. Now it looks like they want a mandate to keep going.
