GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Operation Safe Summer is now underway across the state of Michigan, giving heavier penalties for those using what U.S. District Attorney Mark Totten calls "illegal crime guns."
"This is talking to all the prolific shooters in the community and those who choose to traffic in firearms and provide illegal firearms to these folks," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jim Deir. "My message is real simple. Put them down, this is not the time or the place."
This means from now until Labor Day, the U.S. District Attorney's office will be federally prosecuting people who violate that criteria, also including those in possession of guns that have been fired during previous crimes.
"Two of the most common ones are felon in possession, and possessing a machine gun, including a gun that has a machine gun conversion device or what is commonly referred to as a 'switch'," said Totten.
Last year was the first "Safe Summer Initiative" by the federal prosecutor and local law enforcement agencies. In total, eight people were prosecuted, one just recently receiving seven years for those gun-related charges.
"Which was almost certainly years more than he would have been sentence heavy gone through the state system," said Totten.
The announcement of safe summer comes on the heels of two separate shootings in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids Police Chief, Eric Winstrom said every day, they take around one illegal gun off the streets.
"The the damage that these illegally possessed crime guns that we see as many as 12 incidents on the very same gun," said Winstrom. "The damage that these guns can do is immeasurable to our community."
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