MSU students rally for more gun violence prevention legislation

Lansing — Dozens of Michigan State University Students gathered on the steps of the State Capitol Thursday afternoon, ignoring the day's heavy snow to call for more gun laws just over one year after a shooter took the lives of three classmates and injured five more on campus.

Organizers said they appreciate the Democratic majority legislature's swift action with some gun control measures, but there is still work to be done. Several called on Michigan lawmakers to take action.

"Don't wait for another tragedy to make change. Growing up in the lock down generation — it has taught me that the normalization and desensitization to tragedy is a dangerous game," said Maya Manuel, an organizer with Sit Down MSU. "We got those bills passed, but we can't stop, we can't stop now."

Three gun safety laws signed in the aftermath of last year’s Feb. 13 mass shooting at MSU took effect on Tuesday. The legislation, which includes a "red flag law," is meant to keep firearms out of the hands of minors and people considered a risk to themselves and others.

Thursday's rally was held just days after the one-year mark of the shooting at MSU. It also fell on the same day Manuel organized a sit-down protest at the Capitol a year ago that was attended by hundreds of students.

During Thursday's rally, students and others in attendance took time to remember the three students who died — Arielle Anderson, Alex Verner and Brian Fraser — and the five who were injured.

"As we stand here today, we hold them in our hearts along with their loved ones and the five other students who were shot and wounded that night," said Saylor Reinders, co-leader of Students Demand Action. "This tragedy should never have happened. And while we can never take away that hurt, we can and will honor them with action every single day."

Jo Kovach, the former president of the Associated Students of MSU, the university's student government, and Emily Hoyumpa, the current president, shared personal details about the victims, including their ambitions and favorite pastimes.

"These are not just numbers, they were individuals with dreams, with families, with stories. Their loss is a stark reminder of the urgency of our mission," said Joseph Kesto, President of March for Our Lives at MSU. "There's still an immense amount of work to be done and our victories in Michigan are steps in the right direction, but they're just that — steps."

State Rep. Emily Dievendorf and Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks sat in the crowd as several students spoke about their experiences with gun violence in schools. Dievendorf said the work has only just begun when it comes to gun violence prevention.

"It's going to take everything from more community gun violence prevention organizations being funded, harm reduction, as well as looking at what areas we may have missed in the first round, and trying to secure the firearms that we have," Dievendorf said. "These students are going to show up until we finish the job."

The students also sat down with Brinks, Dievendorf, and Reps. Penelope Tsernoglou and Sam Singh inside the capitol. Students questioned the legislators about increasing funding for mental health services and continuing to push for gun violence prevention legislation.

"Right now the House, the situation is 54-54, so it's tied with Democrats and Republicans and currently we don't have any Republican members who are willing to vote yes on any gun safety measures," Brinks said. "If you're their constituents contact them, vote, help someone who does support gun safety when they're running for office."

At the rally Kovach specifically brought up shoot first, or stand your ground laws, which are still on the books in Michigan and allow people to use deadly force if they feel threatened, even if they can retreat or flee.

"Last year, we sat here and we asked our lawmakers to do anything to make this loss feel like it could have never happened to anyone else to make this pain into something that could change lives for the better. And they delivered," Kovach said. "As long as there are not strict laws in place, mass funding for social services for gun violence and communities historically ravaged by firearms, and as long as guns can still make it into the wrong hands, there's still work to be done."

hmackay@detroitnews.com