Michigan committee meeting to consider barring weapons in Capitol interrupted by threats

A commission that oversees Michigan’s state Capitol building had a virtual meeting interrupted by protesters on Monday as the members discussed a possible ban on guns inside the building.

USA Today reported that the State Capitol Commission voted Monday to form a subcommittee to seek input from state lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), but ended its meeting early after protesters began flooding the comments with racist and threatening remarks.

“We have some people who have infiltrated the meeting … who are threatening legislators and individual committee members,” said secretary of the Michigan state Senate, Margaret O’Brien, as the meeting ended, according to USA Today.

During Monday’s meeting, legal experts reportedly clashed over whether such a commission had the authority to bar guns from the building.

Lawmakers, particularly Democrats, have slammed groups of armed protesters who demonstrated in the state Capitol in recent weeks, and several knocked the commission in a statement to USA Today after the decision over whether to ban guns in the building was delayed. 

“It’s irresponsible and we expect better from those entrusted with the care of the people’s building and all who pass through it,” two state Democratic lawmakers told USA Today in a statement.