To the Journal editor:

It is time to act. Enough is enough.

When the tragedy at Michigan State University happened, I was overseas in New Zealand and Australia. As a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law and as a father of a college student, I was especially concerned and upset.

Local New Zealanders and Australians expressed shock and disbelief that such gun violence still happens in the United States. They shared with me how their governments successfully eliminated mass gun deaths by passing sensible gun reform.

It was 4 years ago in March 2019 in Christ Church, New Zealand. A lone gunman — armed with an assault rifle — killed 51 people at two mosques and wounded another 50–the worst mass gun shooting in New Zealand’s history.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for sweeping gun reform, and less than one month later, the country’s Parliament passed a nationwide ban on semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles.

The vote in Parliament was 119 to 1 in favor of gun reform. Since this action, there have been no mass gun shootings in New Zealand. Let me repeat: none. Hunters in New Zealand can still obtain hunting rifles.

Australia has had similar success with stopping mass gun shootings with gun reform. The last mass gun shooting in Australia happened in 1996 in the State of Tasmania when 35 innocent people lost their lives. The gunman used a military-style automatic weapon he bought without a background check.

The Australian Parliament then enacted sweeping gun reform, and since their Parliament acted there have been zero mass shootings in Australia. Let me repeat: none. And hunters in Australia can still obtain hunting rifles.

It’s time for the Michigan legislature to act and pass sensible gun reform and stricter background checks — consistent with the Second Amendment.

Aren’t our school children and college students deserving of protection from gun violence? Enough is enough.

Contact your representatives in Lansing to make your voice heard.