Michigan’s firearm safety caucus unveiled a sweeping package of gun control proposals Wednesday that would impose strict new requirements on dealers, ban certain accessories, and raise the minimum purchase age to 21, building on legislation that remains stalled in the Republican-controlled House.
New Restrictions Target Dealers and Accessories
Representative Helena Scott, a Detroit Democrat, announced plans to ban high-capacity magazines and bump stocks, devices that enable semi-automatic weapons to fire in rapid succession similar to machine guns. The caucus also backs establishing a three-day waiting period between firearm purchases and possession. Scott described the waiting period as a straightforward safeguard designed to slow down moments of crisis. The proposals include raising the minimum age for gun purchases to 21 years old.
Insurance and Liability Requirements Proposed
Representative Julie Brixie, who chairs the caucus, outlined accountability measures for gun sellers, including a state-level licensing system tied to mandatory liability insurance. The package would require firearm dealers to carry at least $1 million in insurance coverage. Brixie said the plan ensures gun sales are conducted properly and sellers face liability if they sell firearms to prohibited buyers. The proposals also include allowing state-level lawsuits against gun manufacturers and expanding legal exposure for the firearms industry.
Previous Legislation Remains Stalled
Detroit pastor Barry Randolph endorsed the agenda at a Wednesday press conference in Lansing, arguing that additional steps remain necessary to prevent firearms from reaching dangerous individuals. Randolph pointed to declining accidental shootings of children between 2024 and 2025 as evidence that recently enacted laws are producing results. The Michigan Senate passed legislation banning bump stocks and ghost guns in 2025, but those bills have not advanced in the Republican-led House. House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri acknowledged Democrats would need to win control of the chamber to advance more gun control legislation.
What This Means
The proposals build on gun laws adopted following mass shootings at Oxford High School in 2021 and Michigan State University in 2023. Supporters frame the measures as necessary public safety protections, while the stalled legislation in the Republican House suggests continued partisan division over Second Amendment issues. The outcome will likely depend on which party controls the Michigan House, with Democrats openly stating their agenda requires winning the chamber.