LANSING, MI -- Michigan Democrats have introduced a package of bills meant to reduce gun violence including one targeting assault weapons, according to a news release from the lawmakers.

Robert Wittenberg

State Representative Robert Wittenberg, D-Oak Park, and other caucus members, introduced the gun legislation Wednesday, Oct. 19.

The bill to prohibit and provide penalties for the manufacturing, purchasing, possessing, selling and transferring assault weapons was sponsored by Rep. Wittenberg and Rep. Jim Townsend, D-Royal Oak.

"The right to have a firearm is fundamental in our country, but that doesn't mean we should have to accept unnecessary injuries and deaths because of them," Wittenberg said. "I'm proud to be part of these proposals that will restore common sense to our firearms legislation and protect millions of Michiganders from gun violence."

A draft version of the bill defines "assault weapon" as a semiautomatic pistol or semiautomatic or pump-action rifle capable of accepting a detachable magazine, that has at least one feature including a pistol grip behind the trigger on a rifle, a shoulder stock on a pistol, a barrel shroud, a muzzle break or compensator, or a protruding grip not held by the trigger hand.

The definition also includes a pistol capable of accepting a detachable magazine in a location outside of the pistol grip, a semiautomatic pistol or "center-fire rifle" with a fixed magazine that can carry more than 10 rounds of ammunition, and a shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

The bill would also make it illegal to posses at the same time a semiautomatic or pump-action rifle, or a semiautomatic pistol capable of accepting a detachable magazine, and a magazine capable of use with that firearm that contains more than 10 ammo rounds.

Wittenberg was not available for questions Wednesday about the bill, according to a staff member.

The draft version of the bill contains some exceptions and sets requirements for people owning assault weapons before the proposed law's effective date, including registering the weapon with the Michigan State Police.

A person in violation of the proposed legislation would be guilty of a felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison, a $2,100 fine, or both.

Kalamazoo resident Mike Warren, 33, a member of the Michigan Gun Rights group, said he opposes the bill targeting assault weapons, partly because he believes it would impact law-abiding gun owners more than criminals.

"It's like a solution looking for a problem," Warren said. "We don't have a problem with people killing people with rifles."

In Michigan, according to 2015 FBI statistics, there were 389 murders with a gun used. Of those, 10 were rifles, the FBI data shows. Another 10 were shotguns, 148 were handguns, and 221 were "unknown" type.

He said the bill describes accessories that can be added to guns to make them classified as an assault weapon, under the bill's definition.

"It's not going to make the bullet more or less dangerous," he said, and that it would undermine the point of the Second Amendment. He called it an excuse to limit what people can own.

In late August, a gunman fired 10 shots toward Detroit police officers with what the chief described as a "high-powered assault-type rifle" that was later recovered.

In May, police discovered a loaded assault rifle along with narcotics in a car troopers stopped on Saginaw's West Side.

Other bills in the package introduced Oct. 19 would:

* Require the reporting of stolen or lost ammunition, in a bill sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit.

* Require the provision of ballistic identification to police before certain sales of handguns, in legislation sponsored by Rep. Townsend.

* Prohibit and increase penalties for brandishing of an imitation firearm, sponsored by Rep. Wittenberg.

* Prohibit and provide penalties for altering a firearm or an imitation firearm, sponsored by Rep. Wittenberg.

* Prohibit and provide penalties for purchasing or attempting to purchase a firearm with the intent to furnish it to a minor or another individual prohibited from having a firearm, in legislation sponsored by Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo.

Warren said he could support the idea of the bill meant to stop straw purchases for people who aren't supposed to have a gun, but noted he did not know further details of that bill. He said he could see merit in requiting reporting of stolen or lost ammo, too.

"None of these bills would keep firearms out of the hands of law-abiding citizens who desire to have them," Wittenberg said. "However, these proposals will help keep deadly weapons out of the hands of children and others who should never have them, and will help law enforcement resolve cases involving gun violence."

The bills were introduced on the Day of National Concern -- the day that students across the country were to take the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence, according to a news release from the lawmakers.