Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants gun control activists to know Michigan’s “gun violence prevention majority” in the legislature is taking action, though others with solutions are being ignored.

“Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. With our commonsense, gun violence prevention majority in the legislature, we’ve taken action to protect Michiganders,” Whitmer posted to X on Monday. “Everyone wants to live their lives without fear, and together, we’re building a world where our kids can grow up safely.”

Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. With our commonsense, gun violence prevention majority in the legislature, we've taken action to protect Michiganders. Everyone wants to live their lives without fear, and together, we’re building a world where our kids can grow up safely. https://t.co/rF3HGQHKDV

— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) June 10, 2024

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The post included another from gun rights activists at Everytown touting Whitmer’s appearance at a “Gun Sense University” event in Washington, D.C., where the group and others gathered “to share their stories, exchange ideas, and prepare for the crucial work ahead.”

“Michigan @GovWhitmer joined us virtually at #GSU2024 to talk with our President, @JohnFeinblatt, about the historic progress made in the legislature this session and the power of having Gun Sense Champions in the House, Senate, and Governor’s Mansion,” the Everytown post read.

Neither Whitmer nor Everytown explicitly cite Democrats that now control Michigan’s House, Senate, and governor’s mansion for imposing new restrictions on law-abiding gun owners, but they are the only ones working “together” in Lansing.

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Michigan Republicans and victims of gun violence, meanwhile, are locked out of the conversation.

For two years, school safety legislation introduced after a mass shooting at Oxford High School has languished in committee, despite strong bipartisan support and extensive feedback from organizations, schools, parents, and others.

The dozen-bill package would outline best policies and practices for using $500 million the state set aside in 2022 for school safety and mental health, such as training requirements for security, requiring tips to be forwarded to authorities, and mandated emergency, safety and mental health staff. Other aspects require schools to develop school emergency plans for every building, and put contact information for a student safety tip line on student ID cards.

“They’re taking years, literally years, to react to protecting our children,” Steve St. Juliana, father of a student killed at Oxford High School in 2021, told Bridge Michigan. “I think it’s inexcusable.”

Rep. Jamie Greene, R-Richmond, attempted to force a hearing on the bill package in March, but could not get a single Democrat to agree.

“The people we represent want us to do something to improve the safety of Michigan schools,” Greene said in a statement. “We have a well-thought-out, bipartisan plan with broad support and the chair of our committee will not hold a hearing to get the ball rolling.”

Rep. Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, served as co-chair of a bipartisan School Safety Task Force that developed the legislation, and he’s concerned the stonewalling has more to do with election year politics than preventing another school shooting.

“Those parents watching all of this from the outside, I don’t blame them for being absolutely frustrated,” he told Bridge. “They have every reason to be.”

As the school safety legislation languished, Democrats approved restrictions on gun owners that went into effect in February.

The new laws create crimes for leaving a firearm unattended, and require background checks for hunting rifles passed down by family members. They also expanded the reasons why the government can prohibit gun ownership to misdemeanor offenses, as well as the ability of judges to seize firearms.

“Bills like these set a dangerous precedent for violating Second Amendment rights,” state Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan said when the laws went into effect. “I’m committed to undoing these dangerous policies. Our constitutional rights are the bedrock of our society, and we must hold up and honor those rights.”

Instead, Democrats in Lansing are pushing to allow judges who grant personal protection orders the ability impose firearm relinquishment, despite an existing process that allows for the same through extreme risk protection orders.

“You’ve got a law right now that will address those concerns,” Bob Stevenson, executive director of the Michigan Association of Police Chiefs, told Bridge.

“A PPO is basically an order to keep somebody away from somebody,” he said, “and an extreme risk protection order is the order that requires someone to relinquish their firearms.”

House Judiciary Committee Chair Kelly Breen, D-Novi, told Bridge the legislation will be considered after other gun-control legislation on firearms with no serial numbers, and revisions to firearm relinquishment rules for misdemeanors.