Michigan Democratic Representatives said Thursday that Michigan served as a primer for the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
"We've seen that frenzy fomented" said Rep. Padma Kuppa, D-Troy. "Whether it's with armed gunman in our own chambers, a kidnapping plot against Governor Whitmer, threats against my colleague Representative Cynthia Johnson and Secretary of State Benson."
And on Thursday, as the Michigan Capitol was shutdown for several hours after a man made an unfounded bomb threat, it served as another stark reminder, lawmakers say.
"We had to shut down the Michigan Capitol because we have people who are emboldened by what they saw in Washington, D.C.," said Rep. Darrin Camilleri, D-23 Brownstown.
During a press conference with Michigan United, Democratic Representatives renewed a call for a ban on firearms in the Capitol and called for accountability of Republican lawmakers who sowed doubt in the election results.
"If you are enabling white supremacist terrorism, either directly or indirectly by attending, by thanking, by saying that you stand with these folks, that is a form of tacit consent," said Rep. Abraham Aiyash, D-Hamtramck.
Some Republican lawmakers backed an effort to overturn the election results in December, and just this week, a group of 11 senators submitted a letter to Congress and Vice President Mike Pence calling for an investigation into "credible allegations of misconduct."
Incoming House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski wrote a letter to House Speaker-elect Jason Wentworth saying those lawmakers should disavow their actions or not be seated.
A ban on firearms in the statehouse was brought up in the spring after armed gunmen made their way to the Senate gallery and attempted to force their way into the House chamber, during a protest of Gov. Whitmer's COVID-19 orders.
Some of the men at the Capitol on April 30 were later charged in the terrorist plot to kidnap the governor.
"On May 1, a day after armed gunmen stormed our Capitol building, I lifted up my voice to the Capitol Commission, put it in writing that we should ban firearms in the Michigan State Capitol," said Rep. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing. "We are now at January 7, 2021, and there has been no action."
In September, the Capitol Commission failed to pass two proposals regarding firearm bans in the building and tabled the issue for further discussion.
"The blood will be on the hands of anyone in any type of power, who has a platform who does not use that platform to lower the temperature, and anyone who does not vote in favor of banning guns in this state Capitol building and holding lawmakers accountable who continue to incite violence," Anthony said.
House Speaker-elect Jason Wentworth was not available for comment Thursday. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey's office did not immediately return request for comment, but told The Detroit News he would support a ban on open carry in the Capitol.
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