Everytown for Gun Safety Releases 2024 State Gun Law Rankings, Michigan Ranks 20th and Sees its Rank Increase By 4

After Electing a Gun-Sense Trifecta in 2022, Michigan Lawmakers Enacted Historic Gun Safety Policies, Increasing Michigan’s Gun Law Ranking by 4

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety launched the updated “Gun Law Rankings” for 2024, an online tool and website that ranks all 50 states based on the strength of their gun laws and catalogs gun safety laws state by state. This year, Everytown’s state gun law rankings also shows whether states’ rankings increased or decreased over the past year, reflecting progress made by passing common-sense gun safety policies or setbacks as a result of enacting dangerous measures backed by the gun lobby. Everytown’s analysis found that Michigan ranked 20th in the nation for its gun laws and saw its rank increase by four spots – from 24 to 20 – over the past year.

In 2023, gun-sense legislators in Michigan took action to pass common-sense gun safety policies including an Extreme Risk law, which empowers law enforcement, family members, and healthcare providers to petition courts to temporarily restrict access to firearms by individuals who are at risk of harming themselves or others. It is an essential tool to keep our loved ones and communities safe. Michigan also passed laws to require background checks for all gun sales in the state of Michigan, a secure firearm storage law, and a law that will prohibit people convicted of domestic violence misdemeanor offenses from purchasing or possessing firearms. 

“Over the last year we saw the power of our gun sense champions, leading the fight against gun violence from the Capitol to the Governor’s mansion, and this ranking confirms Michigan families are safer thanks to their commitment to this fight,” said Mia Reid, fellow with the Everytown Survivor Network, volunteer with the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action, and founder and CEO of the Charles Woodrow Reid Community Help Center. “We look forward to continuing working with gun sense champions at every level until every Michigan family is safe from gun violence once and for all, and our state leads the Nation in this fight.” 

“The devastating impacts of gun violence hit home for many of us in Michigan, but we’ve refused to let tragedy define us. Everytown’s updated ranking shows us that we don’t have to accept this crisis as inevitable.” said Saylor Reinders, co-leader of the Michigan State University chapter of Students Demand Action. “After a gunman opened fire at my school nearly a year ago, Michigan leaders leaped into action to pass major gun safety legislation. They didn’t just offer thoughts and prayers. We’re now helping lead the fight to prevent gun violence and make sure the next generation of young people don’t have to grow up in constant fear of gunfire. Gun safety laws save lives, it’s that simple.”

In an average year, 1,382 people die and 2,437 are wounded by guns in Michigan. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Michigan, and an average of 103 children and teens die by guns every year. More information about gun violence in Michigan is available here.

To speak with an expert about Everytown’s State Gun Law Rankings or gun violence prevention efforts in Michigan, please contact [email protected]