KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer came to Kalamazoo on Tuesday, July 26, to sign an executive order to combat gun violence, and to hold a round table on the issue.
The order will cut loose more funding for local efforts to prevent shootings.
Whitmer says she went to Oxford after the school shooting there, and saw the anguish in the eyes of the parents. In Kalamazoo Whitmer heard from victims, survivors, police officials, pastors, parents, psychologists and hunters.
Pastor Addis Moore said they can do the programs, but the problem is too many guns.
Whitmer particularly wanted to hear from Psychologist Steven Culver, who assesses kids who have made threats to Kalamazoo Public Schools, and also hunts.
One major theme expressed during the roundtable discussion was the frustration that the Legislation has failed to enact much of anything to help prevent gun violence. Whitmer says she will keep trying.
Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting blamed House and Senate leaders for keeping bills with bipartisan support from coming to a vote for what he called purely political reasons.
The Executive order signed by Whitmer at the conclusion of the event will direct $75-million from the American Relief Plan’s Safer Communities Act to local municipalities to fund locally based gun violence prevention programs.
Reporting by: John McNeill
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