May 9 • 2019 15 jn dered, what does it have to take to get common sense gun violence preven- tion legislation passed?” Wittenberg posed at a JAC ii gathering. On April 30, he said the Poway murder and mass shooting gives him further reason to push forward on his attempts to make changes to the state’ s policies on gun control. He also acknowledged that no law, including California’ s own Red Flag law, enact- ed in 2014, will stop all gun-related deaths. “We know policy change is not the end all be all and will not stop all gun violence, ” Wittenberg said. “But there are multiple proven methods in other states that show there is reduced gun violence when common sense gun control laws are in place … We need not wait for the next tragedy to act. We should be [passing gun control legislation] because it is the right thing to do. ” Wittenberg pointed to State Attorney General Dana Nessel’ s efforts to get funding for her new Hate Crimes Unit off the ground, which is getting pushback in state senate hearings from Lansing Republicans, Wittenberg said. He says 2019 is far different from 2015. Although gun violence con- trol legislation squarely sits in the Democratic camp, Wittenberg has been told privately by Republican colleagues that they would vote in support of Red Flag legislation if it came to a hearing on the State House floor. However, getting the legislation to the floor is an uphill battle because the state speaker of the House controls what gets heard and debated. Currently, that post is held by Lee Chatfield (R-Levering), also serving his final term in office. Last July, he was stopped boarding a plane in a small northern Michigan air- port with a loaded and unregistered handgun in his carry-on bag during a pre-flight screening. In January, Chatfield paid a $1,960 fine to the federal Transportation Security Administration. Some Republicans have expressed concerns about gun owners’ rights of due process in any Red Flag laws. According to Michigan’ s pro- posed legislation, a judge must grant a request before any weapons can be seized. Wittenberg said he worked alongside Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, a former Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, who recommended that penalties for presenting false evidence be treated the same as filing a false police report. “Given this fact, it makes sense to pass legislation to intervene for those who are a danger to themselves and others, ” said Bouchard last year when Wittenberg introduced the bills. Rep. Ryan Berman (a Temple Israel member), Republican in the 39th District, said he agrees, in general, that individuals who pose a clear threat to themselves or others should not possess firearms for the safety of the community. However, he does not think the legis- lation, as currently written, is the best route to achieve this goal. “We must protect the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms, but it is also important to prevent acts of vio- lence, ” Berman said. “My focus is on the real root cause of this issue, which is our broken mental health system. We should remain committed to find- ing solutions that improve the health and safety of our state. ” Since the Parkland shooting, nine states — including Florida — passed Red Flag laws allowing police or household members to seek court orders requiring people deemed threatening to temporarily surrender their guns. Fourteen states now have Red Flag laws. As Michigan laws stand now, law enforcement cannot take away some- one’ s weapons until a crime has been committed. There were 1,223 gun deaths in Michigan in 2016, which is the high- est since 1999, when the CDC began posting data on its website. Almost 60 percent of the deaths were suicides. While progress on gun control legislation is slow at the federal level, Wittenberg and Manoogian are encouraged there is some traction and a swaying of public opinion as these laws get passed by the states. Wittenberg added that because the NRA spends more money lobbying federal rather than state legislators, there is a bigger chance of “moving the needle” in places like Lansing over Washington. “The needle is moving slowly, but it is moving,” he said. ■ See related opinion piece on page 6. Rep. Ryan Berman Magen Davi d Adom has been savi ng l i ves si nce 1 930, some 1 8 years bef or e Isr ael became a state. We take i mmense pri de i n bei ng Isr ael ’ s nati onal emer gency medi cal servi ce and i n suppl yi ng the bl ood and medi cal car e f or the sol di ers who have ensur ed Isr ael ’ s exi stence. Joi n us i n cel ebr ati ng Isr ael ’ s i ndependence on Yom HaAt zma’ ut . Save a l i f e i n Isr ael . Support Magen Davi d Adom at af mda. or g/yomha or cal l 888. 674. 4871. Saving lives. It’s in our blood. Ever si nce ther e’s been an IDF pr otecti ng Isr ael , ther e’s been an MDA ensuri ng thei r heal th.