Michigan
Police wade into enforcing Michigan's new gun laws
Police begin enforcing new Michigan gun laws
“They make the laws, we enforce them,” said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.
FOX 2 (WJBK) – Three new Michigan gun laws regulating storage and access went into effect Tuesday, signed last year by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“They make the laws, we enforce them,” said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.
The Michigan safe storage law, expanded universal background checks, and the “Red Flag” law will all be enforced starting Feb 13.
Wickersham reviewed the new gun laws; he said they are simple responsible gun ownership.
“If you have a firearm in your home, and you have minor children, the firearm needs to be stored in a locked box,” Wickersham said. “If you do not have a locked box, then it needs to be unloaded with a trigger lock in it.”
Gun locks and gun safes are a proven way to help prevent accidental shootings involving children, according to police. The universal background checks now apply to shotguns and rifles, not just handguns.
“Purchasing a rifle, purchasing a shotgun is going to require a permit or if you’re a CPL holder,” Wickersham said. “If you’re buying it from a private individual – there’s paperwork that needs to be filled out by the seller, and information has to get back to the law enforcement agency so it can be properly registered.”
But when it comes to the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (ERPO), also known as the “Red Flag” law, Wickersham said implementation has been pretty involved. Police have been working with the family division of circuit court to allow people to petition to have guns taken away from those who are threatening to harm themselves or others.
“First and foremost, I want my deputies to be safe when they have to go execute one of these ERPOs,” the sheriff said.
Under the “Red Flag” law, a judge could order someone to surrender their weapons. Otherwise, law enforcement would have to go and take them, potentially setting up a dangerous situation for police even though more and more officers are receiving crisis intervention training.
“Hopefully, we’re going to be able to diffuse all of these situations, but we don’t know yet,” Wickersham said.
It is still unclear how frequently the petition process will be used. Right now, the sheriff says are using it, but should still call 911 if there’s an imminent threat
“In any situation – if it’s immediate, there’s threat of life – 911 is the avenue that you should take,” he said. “Law enforcement comes, we’re trained, we’re getting more and more law enforcement officers trained in dealing with individuals that have mental health issues. So our game is stepping up and we’re getting better at what we do.”
For more a break-down of Michigan’s new gun laws, click here.
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A man in Michigan who got married and then ran over his best friend that same day, killing him, after an alcohol-fueled argument was sentenced Monday to least 30 years in prison.
“The only thing I can do for the rest of my life is express my apology and remorse. … I will forever be sorry,” James Shirah said in Genesee County court.
Shirah, 24, was driving when his vehicle struck Terry Taylor Jr. in Flint, about an hour’s drive northwest of Detroit, on Aug. 30, 2024. He and Savanah Collier were married earlier that day and the celebration had moved to a house.
Shirah’s attorney had argued that the crash was not intentional. Prosecutors, however, said Shirah had left the scene and had time to reflect before returning and striking Taylor, MLive.com reported.
“Mr. Shirah, I believe that you are not a criminal. You are, however, a killer,” Judge Khary Hanible said.
In April, Shirah pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and other offenses. He will be eligible for parole after 30 years.
“I hope that they throw the book at you,” Taylor’s cousin, Eren Taylor, said before Shirah received his sentence.
Shirah’s wife will be sentenced later in May for being an accessory.
BENTON HARBOR — Vinyl collectors and music fans are invited to dig through thousands of records and music collectibles at the Southwest Michigan Record Show.
The event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 16 at Grand Upton Hall inside Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center in Benton Harbor, according to a press release.
Now in its fourth season, the show features 25 vendors from five states, offering 70 tables filled with vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, record supplies and music memorabilia.
Free admission begins at 10 a.m.
General admission is free starting at 10 a.m., while early entry is available at 8:30 a.m. for $5. Door prize drawings are planned for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., including $25 shopping certificates and record supplies from BCW Supplies. The first 75 attendees will receive free tote bags.
A food truck will be on site, and cash is preferred for purchases. Some vendors may accept cards, PayPal, Venmo and other payment methods, but there is no ATM on site.
Vendors from across the Midwest and beyond
The show is expected to feature a wide selection of music genres, including classic rock, pop, ’80s, metal, punk, jazz, blues, R&B, country and soundtracks.
“This show is still being discovered, and that’s part of what makes it exciting,” event organizer Jeremy D. Bonfiglio said in the release. “We’ve built a strong group of experienced vendors, so whether you’re just getting into vinyl or digging for something rare, there’s a real opportunity here to find something unexpected.”
Free parking is available near the entrance of Mendel Center, 2755 Napier Ave.
Future dates planned
The Southwest Michigan Record Show is also scheduled to return Sept. 19.
For more information, visit southwestmichiganrecordshow.com or follow the event on Facebook.
This story was created by reporter Cheryl Morey, with the assistance of artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing.
ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The spirit of curling is one of friendship.
While memory of the Winter Olympics may have long melted away in the minds of many Americans, there some whose curiousness for the sport of curling has extended all the way into the springtime.
“Everybody’s having fun,” said Paul Curran, league manager for the Grand Rapids Curling Club. “It’s a really weird sport in that it’s really friendly.”
The club, which plays at the Cedar Rock Sportsplex in Algoma Township, has seen a recent spike in interest in its beginners leagues and learn to curl classes.
“We’re all here to curl and learn,” said beginner Aaron Schwieterman. “Everyone’s making mistakes, but still having a great time learning the sport and trying to mimic what the professionals do at the Olympics.”
“I recommend it to anybody who wants to try something different,” said beginner Margaret Steketee. “If I can do it, anybody can do it.”
For a period of time on the ice, these newcomers to the sport turn into competitors. Then, at the conclusions of their games, they revert to being friends.
“Largely, what you’ll find with curlers is that when they’re done curling, they want to be friendly and hang out,” Curran said. “Which is what our league is doing right now.”
As long as people are interested, Curran says the club will continue to put on beginners leagues and lessons.
“The more people we get out here curling, the better,” he said.
For more information on ways to play and learn how to curl in West Michigan, visit the Grand Rapids Curling Club’s website.
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