On Monday, November 20, Governor Whitmer signed three bills into law that will protect domestic violence survivors from armed abusers: HB 4945 (Rep. Amos O’Neal, D-Saginaw), SB 528 (Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit) and SB 528 (Sen. Sue Shink, D-Northfield Twp.). Advocates had called for the bills since the spring and hailed the historic victory.
The signing ceremony took place at the YWCA of Kalamazoo, which provides services to domestic violence survivors. Governor Whitmer was joined by Rick and Martha Omillian, whose daughter Maddie was killed by her ex-boyfriend at Kalamazoo College in 1999. The Omillians have spent the decades since advocating for legislation to protect domestic violence survivors, including the law signed today. Other survivor advocates were also invited to the event.
“These new laws will save lives,” said Kazia Kelly, a domestic violence survivor and advocate for the legislation, “Just as importantly, they will give domestic violence survivors hope. This is a statement that society cares about our safety, and more women and children will have the opportunity to leave abuse.”
The new laws will bring Michigan into line with 33 other states and the federal government by preventing all those convicted of domestic CORRECTION: In our November 16, 2023 issue, an article about El Rey de las Arepas Restaurant described the matriarch of the Gutierrez family as deceased. We are very pleased to learn that Mrs. Zoraida Gutierrez is alive and well! We regret the error and apologize to Mrs. Gutierrez and the Gutierrez family. violence charges from purchasing or possessing firearms. Under the new statute, the prohibition will remain in place for eight years after the completion of the offender’s sentence.
“Domestic violence is a serious problem in our state. We know from the data and from hearing directly from survivors that domestic violence and firearms are a deadly mix. Women in domestic violence situations are five times more likely to be killed by their abuser if their abuser has access to a firearm. After many years of work on this legislation to protect domestic violence survivors from firearm death or injury, I am happy that this day is finally here,” said state Senator Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), sponsor of Senate Bill 471.
“I’m grateful to Governor Whitmer for signing these bills and proud of the work that Rep. O’Neal, Sen. Shink and I have done to lift up the voices of domestic violence survivors and champion this commonsense policy solution with bipartisan support.”
The need for these laws is urgent: 70 Michigan women and children are killed by an armed abuser each year. Domestic violence is five times more likely to turn deadly when there is a firearm in the home. Two thirds of mass shootings are related to domestic violence.
According to the Brady Campaign, domestic violence murder has increased by 22% in the past 5 years.
“Governor Whitmer and the leaders of the legislature deserve a lot of credit for working with domestic violence survivors and finally making change,” said Ryan Bates, Executive Director of EGVMI, “Advocates have been trying to pass these laws for years, but the bills never got a vote. Now, with our new leaders in Lansing, someone is finally listening.”
Passage of these bills was a priority for End Gun Violence Michigan and its partners, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, and the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. Together, they organized dozens of public events and more than 30 meetings with legislators to advocate for the bills. Many of these events were led by survivors of domestic violence themselves.
