Brady Center Files Amicus Brief Defending Michigan Schools' Ability to Ban Guns

Brady supports Ann Arbor Public Schools' sensible policy restricting guns in its schools; all students deserve to be safe from gun violence at school.

Washington, D.C., March 12, 2018 - The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence yesterday filed an amicus brief with the Michigan Supreme Court defending local school districts' right to ban guns in their schools. The case involves a challenge to Ann Arbor Public Schools' ban, and focuses on whether Michigan's state-wide firearms law preempts a local school district from regulating guns on school property and at school events. The Court of Appeals previously upheld the ban as permissible and not preempted. The full amicus brief can be found here.

In the brief, the Brady Center asserts that limiting or banning guns in schools is proven to save lives and effectively prevent gun violence. Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) rightfully and reasonably banned the possession of firearms on school district property and at school-sponsored activities after an individual brought a firearm into a school choir concert. As pointed out in the brief, Michigan law gives local school districts broad leeway to adopt policies that promote a safe school environment for its students and others, and AAPS's policy is one example of such a measure.

"Local schools' ability to protect students, staff, and others should not be compromised by overreaching interpretations of state preemption laws pushed by the gun lobby," stated Jonathan Lowy, Vice President of Brady's Legal Action Project. "The Brady Center will continue to fight in the courts to defend common sense, safety-oriented measures to reduce gun violence in our communities, and is proud to support AAPS in its efforts to promote the safety and well-being of its students. As school districts like AAPS recognize, fewer guns are needed in schools - not more."

A team of lawyers from global law firm White & Case authored the brief for the Brady Center, together with Ann Arbor, Mich. attorney Mark Hopper of Ferguson Widmayer. The White & Case team was led by Paul Carberry and Martin Sawyer and assisted by Matthew Bernstein, Erika Shapiro, Lindsey Cherner and Brittany Ngo.

About White & Case LLP:
White & Case is a leading global law firm with lawyers in 43 offices across 30 countries. Among the first US-based law firms to establish a truly global presence, White & Case provides counsel and representation in virtually every area of law that affects cross-border business. White & Case's clients value both the breadth of its global network and the depth of its US, English and local law capabilities in each of its regions and rely on White & Case for their complex cross-border transactions, as well as their representation in arbitration and litigation proceedings. To learn more about the Firm, its work on behalf of clients, and its global pro bono practice, please take a look at its Services and Global Citizenship pages.

About Brady Center:
The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence is dedicated to reducing gun injuries and deaths in America by stemming the causes of gun violence. Brady works in the courts to reform dangerous and reckless gun industry practices that give criminals and dangerous people access to guns. For over 25 years, Brady has brought lawsuits across the country against irresponsible gun companies on behalf of victims of gun violence and has won numerous victories, including court decisions and settlements in Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The Brady Center also defends reasonable gun laws, regulations, and policies, and challenges those that worsen the problem of gun violence. Brady has filed briefs or provided legal advice in hundreds of gun law cases, and has won precedent-setting victories in high-level state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.