Michigan Lawmakers Approve Tip Line for Children to Anonymously Report Parents for ‘Improper’ Gun Storage
Michigan has passed a new bill that includes a controversial provision allowing children to anonymously report their parents for “improperly” storing firearms. The legislation, part of a broader school safety initiative, allocates $1 million for a tip line during the 2024-2025 school year. The bill was passed by the Michigan legislature on Wednesday and also mandates educational materials for school districts on proper firearm storage.
Earlier this year, Michigan implemented a law requiring gun owners to “keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises.”
The tip line has sparked significant criticism from members of the state legislature and gun rights advocates. State Senator Thomas Albert referred to the measure as a “tattle provision,” while State Senator John Damoose argued it was part of a broader attempt to impose a liberal gun control agenda.
“This hotline is nothing more than a page out of the Stasi playbook—encouraging children to spy on their own families,” said State Representative Angela Rigas to The Midwesterner. “This is a dangerous step toward weaponizing children in households for the left, and an outrageous government overreach under the guise of public safety.”
The Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners also condemned the tip line, dubbing it the “Report Your Parents Hotline.” The group posted on X, “While we all support responsible firearms storage, this is the type of thing we’d expect to see from a totalitarian police state.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been a strong proponent of gun control in her state. In June, she signed an executive order establishing the Michigan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, which is focused on enacting so-called “commonsense gun violence prevention laws,” which includes “background checks, safe storage requirements, extreme risk protection orders, and stronger penalties for those convicted of domestic abuse.”
