The University of Michigan announced on Mar. 27 that its Michigan Firearm Law Implementation Program (M-FLIP) is providing free training across the state to help communities use Extreme Risk Protection Orders, also known as red flag laws, to prevent firearm-related tragedies.
The initiative aims to give law enforcement and community members the knowledge and tools needed to use these court-ordered measures, which temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others. This comes as firearm injuries remain a leading cause of death for people under 18 in Michigan.
Reid DeVoge, deputy chief of Public Safety and Police Services at Michigan Technological University, said his search for guidance after a loss in his community led him to M-FLIP. “To say they were collaborative is an understatement,” DeVoge said. He worked with April Zeoli, director of M-FLIP and associate professor at the U-M School of Public Health, who has taken this training to 18 counties so far. Zeoli said, “Firearm violence is preventable. If people have the tools and the knowledge to prevent firearm violence, perhaps we can save more lives.” She added that ERPOs are one tool available for preventing suicide, nonfatal injuries, and homicides involving firearms.
Within months after participating in an M-FLIP workshop organized by Zeoli’s team, DeVoge collaborated with other law enforcement agencies in northern Michigan using the new law. He said that understanding the process made it less intimidating: “The training gave us confidence in the process. More importantly, we learned the research behind the laws and why these mechanisms are important and what they can prevent.” The law took effect statewide in February 2024 following mass shootings at Oxford High School and Michigan State University.
Zeoli emphasized her goal for research impact beyond academic journals: “I never wanted my research to sit in a paywalled journal,” she said. She hopes more groups will request M-FLIP’s free services: “Inviting us in costs you nothing… provide any training or technical assistance your organization needs.” According to the official website, the University of Michigan Ann Arbor operates as a public research university with campuses also located in Dearborn and Flint.
The university works to advance knowledge while cultivating leaders who address challenges facing both Michigan residents and those beyond its borders according to its official website. Its main campus is situated in Ann Arbor with additional sites extending its reach throughout Dearborn and Flint according to university information.
