LANSING, Mich. — Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, on Tuesday issued the following statement after Senate Democrats signaled that they will soon push gun legislation following Monday’s shootings on campus at Michigan State University:
“Many people across our state are struggling today to make sense of the senseless violence that took place at MSU yesterday and has become far too common across our society. As a parent, it is impossible to comprehend the fear, pain, and helplessness that the Spartan community experienced last night. As an elected lawmaker, I want desperately to help keep students and families across our state safe from these irrational acts of evil.
“We have to do more than something. We must cast aside talking points, work together toward real solutions, and do more to protect our children. In recent years we’ve invested significant resources in making our schools safer. We need to continue those efforts, while also pursuing improvements to mental health screening and care.
“Another critical piece of the puzzle is ensuring current laws that protect Michigan residents are being enforced. I echo calls of our attorney general to hold soft-on-crime prosecutors who put dangerous criminals back on the streets accountable.
“I am willing to work with anyone who wants to find solutions that will better protect our children. But we have to be honest with one another — proposing bills that do not address the root causes of this epidemic just to do something, is just as bad as doing nothing.”
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