Michigan’s new red flag law has resulted in nearly 300 people being prohibited from owning guns in 2025. The law allows courts to step in if there is evidence that someone might harm themselves or others.
The law, passed in Michigan earlier this year, allows police, health professionals, family members, or roommates to petition judges to temporarily remove firearms from individuals. This can last for up to one year.
Michigan joined at least 20 other states that have enacted similar laws aimed at preventing gun violence. Supporters, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, believe this law can help prevent mass shootings and domestic violence. The law went into effect on February 13, 2024, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of a tragic shooting at Michigan State University, where three students were killed and five were wounded. This law is part of a larger gun safety package approved by the state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature.
According to the State Court Administrative Office, there were 391 complaints filed under the law in 2024. Of those, 287 resulted in no-gun orders. In 84 cases, the orders were denied. In 14 cases, the orders were either dismissed or rescinded following a hearing.
Individuals who have been banned from owning guns under the law can ask a judge to reconsider the decision within the one-year period.
The report also noted that at least 31 people who had been subject to the no-gun orders were later charged with crimes, although these charges were unrelated to the gun ban.
In 2022, an Associated Press analysis found that since the implementation of red flag laws, firearms had been removed from individuals 15,049 times across various states. That figure represents fewer than 10 instances per 100,000 adult residents.
The Michigan State gunman, who took his own life away from campus, had been described as a loner. His writings indicated that he had mental health issues. This follows another tragic event in Michigan, the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School, where a student killed four others.
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