The University of Michigan recently increased its police presence following the Feb. 13 shooting at Michigan State University “out of an abundance of caution,” as noted by the U-M Division of Public Safety and Security in a Feb. 14 press release. The announcement has been met with mixed responses from U-M students and faculty, making it clear that not everyone feels safer with more police on campus. In a Feb. 14 statement, University President Santa Ono wrote about the increased police presence. “Support resources are available on campus for students, faculty and staff,” Ono wrote. “You will see an increased safety and security presence from our Division of Public Safety and Security.” Communication to the campus community did not outline exactly how many additional DPSS officers have been deployed or what other specific precautionary measures have been taken on campus in response to the tragedy at MSU. In an email to The Michigan Daily, Melissa Overton, DPSS deputy chief of police, said those are not typically details the department publicizes when determining security needs. “DPSS does not provide specific details related to staffing numbers,” Overton wrote. “Each DPSS department director determines staffing needs through evaluating risk, community needs, calls for service, special events, and other factors.” Bryan Roby, chair of the U-M Police Department Oversight Committee, shared that some students had reported to the PDOC about feeling more secure on campus following the increased police presence, but approximately the same number of students felt uncomfortable with the change. “Some did say that they greatly appreciated that there’s been an increased presence on campus in response to MSU but I will say that (perspective) seemed to be in the minority,” Roby said. “But not a significant minority. It was (close to) even.” Less than 24 hours after Ono’s statement, Public Health researcher Peter Larson wrote in a tweet that he didn’t believe increased policing was the right response. “U of M is deploying more cops on campus. While this *might* improve safety, I think locking down a public University, with locked doors and metal detectors and cops everywhere is problematic. Guns and policing are both problems. This deserves thought.” — Dr. Peter Larson (@ pslarson2) February 15, 2023. Content warning: mentions of gun violence and suicide. Michigan Senate Democrats introduced 11 bills hoping to implement new gun regulations on Feb. 16, three days after the shooting at Michigan State University. Following the shooting, Democratic legislators said they would fast- track gun reform legislation following the tragedy at MSU. The three main concepts highlighted in the bill package include universal background checks, safe storage requirements and extreme risk protection orders, or “red flag” laws. After Michigan Democrats highlighted gun reform as a priority for years, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer emphasized the bills as a top priority in her State of the State Address in January 2023. State Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, told The Michigan Daily that because universal background check is a familiar proposal broadly supported by the public, many incorrectly assume it is already in place in Michigan. “In Michigan, there are a number of types of sales of firearms that don’t go through a background check system,” Irwin said. “What our universal background check bill would do is establish a system whereby every single gun sale would need to have a background check before the sale can be effectuated.” Current state law only requires gun licenses for all firearms less than 26 inches in overall length. Long guns and shotguns 26 inches and over in length do not require licenses, and no background check. The safe storage requirement bills state that if you live in a place a child would have access to, you must secure your firearm in a locked location. Irwin said there are a couple of bills that provide favorable tax treatment to those purchasing storage equipment. Irwin is a sponsor of Bills 551 and 552, which propose that gun owners should not have to pay sales tax on safe storage equipment. The extreme risk protection order bills, which are included in the overarching bill rights package, would allow certain individuals — namely family members or members of law enforcement — to make a complaint about a person in possession of a gun who they have evidence is likely to cause harm to themselves or others. Irwin said the bill states this complaint must have the support of a judge’s order and can result in the firearm being temporarily removed from the individual’s home. “Someone with knowledge of someone who is likely to cause harm … can bring (that knowledge) forward and then there is a process through the courts where a judge has to hear the evidence,” Irwin said. “These laws have been in place in a number of other states, even very conservative states like Florida.” LSA sophomore Mikah Rector- Brooks, press associate for March for Our Lives, a non-profit focused on ending gun and police violence, told The Daily MFOL hopes the bills pass as soon as possible. Rector- Brooks said these bills support proven methods to reduce gun violence, not just for mass shootings but also for reducing everyday gun violence. “This package (of bills) is the floor, not the ceiling,” Rector- Brooks said. “It’s simply the first step, we need so much more after this. And we at (MFOL) intend to keep on pushing for more because Michigan is so far behind (on legislation) compared to other states.” Although these bills have been proposed in years prior, Republicans have controlled the Michigan Senate since 1983 until January 2023 and have rejected the bills in the past. With Michigan’s “Democratic trifecta,” Irwin said there is a chance to rediscuss the gun reform bills. “This is the first time in 40 years we’ve had any opportunity whatsoever to even have a debate about gun safety laws in the Michigan legislature,” Irwin said. Members of the Great Lakes Gun Rights group have been reported saying they are planning to launch recall campaigns against any lawmakers who vote to support the gun regulation bill package. LSA sophomore Jade Gray, co-chair of the University’s chapter of College Democrats, wrote in an email to The Daily that gun violence is a pressing matter which needs to be addressed. Gray said she, along with College Democrats, is in full support of the bill legislation recently introduced in the Michigan legislature. “The scale of gun violence that we have been desensitized and familiarized with is unique to the U.S. and to the experience of our generation,” Gray wrote. “The state of Michigan was rocked a week ago after tragic gun violence at MSU … The time for thoughts and prayers is over. We must act now and pass gun violence prevention legislation.” The University’s chapter of College Republicans did not respond for comment in time for publication. A Michigan man allegedly threatened, on Twitter, to kill Jewish members of the Michigan State Government in February, according to the FBI. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel claimed on Thursday that she was one of the individuals targeted. The FBI National Threat Operations Center alerted the Detroit FBI office to the threat on Feb. 18. According to the FBI’s affidavit in support of the individual’s arrest, a Twitter user with the account handle @ tempered_reason posted a tweet on Feb. 17 claiming he was on his way to the state of Michigan with the intent to harm those in the Michigan government who identify as Jewish. The individual was later identified by the FBI as a former University of Michigan employee named Jack Eugene Carpenter III. In an email to The Michigan Daily, University spokesperson Kim Broekhuizen wrote that Carpenter was employed by the University for 10 years, working as a systems administrator intermediate in LSA. Carpenter’s employment ended in 2021. In a tweet Thursday, Nessel said she was one of the individuals Carpenter was targeting. According to the affidavit, the FBI worked with Jewish political and community leaders to notify potential targets in the Michigan government after the tweet was posted. Carpenter was arrested and charged with committing an interstate threat as he was found to have been in Texas at the time he sent the tweets. Carpenter is currently being held without bail in a federal court in Detroit where he awaits trial. If found guilty l, Carpenter could receive up to five years in federal prison. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Hank Moon, government officials found six firearms and ammunition in Carpenter’s vehicle when he was arrested. The threat to Michigan officials echoes an increase in anti-semitic attacks across the country. The Anti- Defamation League, an anti- hate organization that focuses on fighting antisemitism in all forms, found that antisemitic attacks reached a record high in the U.S. in 2021. There have been many similar attacks against Jewish people in the past few months. GOT A NEWS TIP? E-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. INDEX Vol. CXXXII, No. 106 ©2023 The Michigan Daily N E WS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 M I C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 michigandaily.com For more stories and coverage, visit Follow The Daily on Instagram, @michigandaily michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Wednesday, March 8, 2023 ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Michigan Democrats introduce 11 gun safety bills Michigan Senate Democrats introduced 11 bills aiming to prevent gun violence GOVERNMENT RILEY HODDER Daily News Editor SNEHA DHANDAPANI Daily Staff Reporter Michigan man threatens Jewish members of Michigan State Government Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel included in threat against Jewish members of Michigan State Government GOVERNMENT Campus react to increased police presence at UMich U-M community members discuss additional DPSS members on campus following MSU shooting PUBLIC SAFETY FILE PHOTO/Daily SEJAL PATIL Daily News Editor ANNA FUDER/Daily Attorney General Dana Nessel addresses voters at the U of M Dems Rally on the Diag Nov. 4. 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