By Elena Durnbaugh
Staff Writer
Posted: June 21, 2024 2:13 PM

Following the mass shooting that took place in Rochester Hills on June 15, lawmakers and elected officials are reacting as the Metro Detroit Community is reeling.

While the Democratic-led Legislature passed several firearm regulations following a mass shooting at Michigan State University last year, it hasn't done much related to guns since. Democratic lawmakers have said last year's actions were the beginning.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, House Speaker Joe Tate and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks said Monday, following a weekend shooting in Rochester Hills where nine people were injured, including two children, when a gunman opened fire at a splash pad, more information is needed before determining any next steps.

Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills) said that the shooting has rocked the greater Rochester area, as no one expected this type of tragedy.

"There's a feeling of disbelief," Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills) said Monday. "No community is immune to this."

The park where the shooting happened recently won awards for redevelopment and placemaking.

"I have grandkids," Tisdel said. "If they'd been in from Colorado, there's a very good chance we would have been at that splash pad."

Tisdel said Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett and Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard are on the frontlines of managing the community's response, but state level officials, including himself and Sen. Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills) are ready to help however they can.

The shooter was not on authorities' radar, Tisdel said, saying that law enforcement told him that the gun used in the incident was purchased legally about 10 years ago.

Tisdel said to prevent this type of tragedy from happening in the future, the state needs to put more funding toward existing mental health programs. He cited Kevin's Law, which was signed in 2004 by Governor Jennifer Granholm and allows for court ordered mental health treatment for people who don't meet the criteria for involuntary hospitalization.

"This is a law already on the books," he said. "These people tell us who they are."

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald called for an investigation into the shooter, the signs of crisis and how the weapon was obtained in a statement. She advised that gun violence should be treated like a public heath epidemic.

"The shooting on Saturday is a tragedy. Our focus should be on the victims. Those who were shot and their families, and also the other children and adults who were there, and first responders. They may not have physical scars, but their experience and trauma are just as real. Victim advocates and canine advocates from my office responded after the shooting and will continue to be available to victims as they process what happened," she said.

Whitmer, Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) and Tate (D-Detroit) also promised to stand by to help the community in whatever ways were identified by local leaders.

"After Saturday's tragedy, our hearts remain with those impacted directly by the shooting, their loved ones, and the entire Rochester Hills community. We are grateful for the first responders who rushed to the scene and for the doctors and nurses working around the clock to provide care," Whitmer Press Secretary Stacey LaRouche said in a statement. "Law enforcement officials are actively investigating this matter. Every Michigander deserves to live without fear of violence – whether they're at school, work, or home. We've gotten Michigan on the right side of history by implementing common sense gun violence prevention laws like universal background checks, safe storage requirements, extreme risk protection orders, and preventing those with domestic violence convictions from accessing firearms, but there's more work to do to make sure Michiganders feel safe in their communities."

Brinks echoed the statement from the governor's office.

"Democrats have been dogged (in) the fight to combat gun violence – the leading cause of death in children. And, as we have always said, there is still more work to do," she said in a statement. "The shooting in Rochester Hills this weekend was nothing short of devastating, both for that community and our state. The most effective thing that we as lawmakers can do to participate in their healing is to make decisions based on the full body of evidence. We eagerly await the results of the investigation into this horrific event and will use reports from law enforcement to inform next steps."

In the House, Tate will also wait on the full report before acting on legislation beyond the universal background checks, red flag laws and safe storage laws passed last year.

"The speaker's thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of the shooting and the entire community impacted by this heinous act," Tate's press secretary, Amber McCann said in a statement. "Speaker Tate will await the findings of the ongoing investigation to better understand what more can be done in the form of legislation to help prevent and address and event like the one that unfolded this weekend in Rochester Hills."

Advocacy groups are calling for more immediate action, though.

"Our hearts are with every person whose life has been radically changed by the horrific gun violence that took place this weekend," said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action, in a statement. "We should not have to live in fear of being shot while celebrating a Juneteenth festival, attending a football game, or enjoying a playground. This is a crisis that a reckless gun industry and extremist lawmakers have manufactured, and our movement will work relentlessly to hold them accountable for jeopardizing the safety of our communities."

End Gun Violence Michigan Executive Director Ryan Bates called for direct and immediate action in the budget from lawmakers.

"Our Legislature passed a number of critical gun violence laws last year. Advocates and legislators were clear: these were an important first step. There remains so much more work to be done to ensure that every trip to the pool, every stop for a bite to eat, is safe," he said in a statement. "The Legislature should immediately appropriate funding to implement those laws. Advocates have called for a $10 million gun violence prevention fund for exactly this purpose. The state budget is being finalized this week. Our legislators can take action to prevent future tragedies by fully funding gun violence prevention."