Michigan’s Gun Laws Receive Improved Rating Amidst National Concerns on Firearm Deaths
The state of Michigan is experiencing a shift in its approach to gun violence, as highlighted by a recent study evaluating state gun laws and their impact on public safety. This comes at a time when firearms accounted for 48,204 deaths across the United States in 2022, according to the Center for Gun Violence Prevention at Northwell Health in New York.
Researchers assessed the effectiveness of state gun legislations in relation to homicide and suicide rates, giving Michigan a B-minus. Although this marks an improvement, the state remains positioned in the middle range compared to others.
Emma Cornell, a researcher involved in the study, noted, “There is obviously more work to be done, but Michigan it does look like it is on the up and up. That is good news.” The study underscores that rigorous gun laws can significantly curb firearm-related suicides.
Further insights were provided by additional research, revealing that adolescents who committed suicide with firearms were more frequently found in homes with unlocked guns, as opposed to those who chose other methods.
Cornell emphasized, “We have to address other root causes of violence, which include access to education, improved health care access, and those other kind of more systemic what we call social determinants of health … that really kind of help support and make a healthy society.” This highlights that while stronger gun laws are essential, socio-economic factors also play a pivotal role in decreasing violence.
The complete findings of this study can be found in JAMA Network Open, a publication by the American Medical Association.
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