Legislature cancels session after Michigan State University shooting

Talks of tax cuts will wait another day after session was cancelled in both the state House and Senate for Tuesday, Feb. 14, following a campus shooting at Michigan State University.

Lawmakers in the Senate were anticipated to take up a major tax change under House Bill 4001, which could potentially see a tax on retirement pensions repealed while boosting a tax credit for low- to moderate-income families, among other things.

Alongside session, all committee meetings out of both chambers were cancelled as well.

As of time of publication, three were fatally shot and another five wounded in a series of shootings that began shortly after 8 p.m. in Berkey Hall on MSU’s campus and continued in the MSU Union.

Those five, as of 1:43 a.m. Tuesday, remained in critical conditions.

The gunman was confirmed dead around midnight due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was a 43-year-old male who was not affiliated in any way with the university, with MSU Interim Deputy Chief Chris Rozman saying officers “have no idea why he came to campus to do this tonight.”

RELATED: Shooting suspect was 43-year-old unconnected to Michigan State; 5 remain critically injured

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in a statement, thanked first responders for their actions between late Wednesday, Feb. 13 and early Feb. 14.

But she noted this act of gun violence was a “uniquely American problem” and that Michiganders “should not, we cannot, accept living like this.”

“Certain places are supposed to be about community, learning, or joy –elementary schools and college campuses, movie theaters and dance halls, grocery stores and workplaces,” Whitmer said. “They should not be the sites of bloodshed.”

Other Democratic lawmakers made similar comments focusing on the uniqueness of mass shootings to American life –along with their want to change that.

Rep. Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton, said in a statement early Feb. 14 noted the act on MSU’s campus marked the 67th mass shooting of 2023.

“We do not need to live like this,” he said. “The United States is the only country where this happens. Where mass shootings have left us desensitized, waking up each day to a seemingly never-ending horrific cycle of gun violence. … Thoughts and prayers without action and change are meaningless.”

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