Gov. Whitmer won't take up gun policy legislation before solving budget and road funding issues

LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - Following two mass shootings in one weekend that killed dozens, Gretchen Whitmer is weighing the possibility of gun policy legislation in Michigan. 

But any sculpted proposal will have to come later. Right now, it's the state's budget and funding for her "damn roads" that's taken precedent.

"There's a very real possibility we might convene something after we get through this budget and try to focus on making sure our families and society are safe," Whitmer said. "(My) top priority is and has been fixing the damn roads."

Both mass shootings in El Paso, TX. and Dayton, Ohio, which left 31 dead, forced the gun debate back into headlines with calls for and against further gun restrictions. For Whitmer, she said she falls on the side of increased restrictions. That means red flag laws and bans on multple round magazines and assault weapons.

But Republican leaders in the state house and senate who are staunchly pro-gun have expressed little interest in such plans. Without enough Democratic numbers in the legislature, Whitmer doesn't plan on spending the political capital on gun policy until she has solved other pressing matters.

"It could be a question of time, not a question of whether or not Michigan needs to confront something like we've seen play out in Ohio and Texas and I don't even like saying it out lout," she said, "but we have to be mindful of the fact that there are improvements that we can make with regard to gun safety and policy here in Michigan."

Despite priorities she ran on, questions over gun policy were front and center during calls she fielded from voters on Monday.

"Hello, thanks for calling the State of Michigan. This is Gretchen Whitmer," she said into a phone's receiver. "You are talking to the governor, yes."

Whitmer said she did meet with GOP leaders Lee Chatfield and Mike Shirkey regarding a debate on gun policy. However, despite the national outcry for politicians to enact some sort of response, that debate will have to come later.

"I know I couldn't live with myself if I didn't at least try to convene everyone around the table and see how we can make Michigan laws better and keep our people safe," she said.