Abdul El-Sayed in Gubernatorial campaign websites

On Crime: Move from prison to productive citizenship

The growth of Michigan's prison system has created a volatile prison environment that harms prisoners as well as corrections officers, staff, and communities. Michigan has an incarceration rate 11% higher than the national average. More importantly, Michigan's incarceration rates for African-Americans compared to white Americans remains far higher than the national average (6.6:1 compared to 5:1 nationally). Yet, our crime rates are not lower and our communities are not safer.

Reducing sentence length
Reducing the prison population
Improving prison conditions
Supporting returning citizens
Improving hiring and training standards for police to end police violence.

By targeting these areas, we can move more Michiganders from prison to productive citizenship, while reducing the biases that undermine our systems of criminal justice and law enforcement. Source: 2018 Michigan Governor campaign website AbdulForMichigan.com Mar 21, 2018

On Drugs: End marijuana prohibition; tax it and regulate it

I support the 2018 ballot initiative to end marijuana prohibition in Michigan and establish a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol. Additionally, I support efforts to ensure that Michigan's adult-use cannabis industry is oriented to small businesses and accessible to people of color and other communities disproportionately affected by the misguided and failed War on Drugs. That is why as governor, I will:

Initiate a thorough review of the Licensing Board to ensure that costs accurately reflect the money needed to operate.
Appoint members to the Licensing Board who represent small businesses and communities of color.
Launch a state-funded incubator for cannabis businesses and entrepreneurs of color and those in rural communities.
Work with the AG to protect cannabis businesses and users from undue intervention from local and state law enforcement.

Source: 2018 Michigan Governor campaign website AbdulForMichigan.com Mar 21, 2018

On Government Reform: Fundamental right to be heard at the ballot box

Voting is an essential component of our democracy, and yet many Michiganders lack access to this fundamental right because of voter ID laws and lack of access to polling places. I want to make sure that all Michiganders have a chance for their voices to be heard at the ballot box.

Automatically register applicants with a Michigan ID to vote.
Promote no-reason absentee voting and an expansion of early voting.
Designate voting day a state holiday so working people can get to the ballot box.
Push to re-enfranchise those who are currently incarcerated.

Source: 2018 Michigan Governor campaign website AbdulForMichigan.com Mar 21, 2018

On Gun Control: No gun possession for convicted domestic abusers

The presence of a firearm in a Domestic Violence situation makes it 5 times more likely a woman will be murdered. In fact, over half of mass shooter incidents involve the killer shooting intimate partners or other family members, including their children. Currently, Michigan law is incredibly weak when it comes to prohibiting convicted domestic abusers from purchasing or possessing guns. Common sense legislation to prevent domestic abusers from obtaining firearms must do all of the following:

Prohibit individuals convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from possessing or purchasing firearms;
Require courts to notify individuals convicted of domestic abuse that they are no longer allowed to possess ammunition or firearms;
Require the surrender of firearms or ammunition by individuals convicted of domestic abuse;
Require law enforcement to remove firearms from the scene of a domestic violence incident.

Source: 2018 Michigan Governor campaign website AbdulForMichigan.com Mar 21, 2018

On Gun Control: Take on the corporate gun lobby; enough is enough

Clearly, gun violence is a national epidemic. Enough is enough. Too many elected officials are scared of a corporate gun lobby that is more concerned with making profits for gun manufacturers than promoting responsible gun ownership. I will never take a dime from the gun lobby.

Prohibit the sale or possession of "weapons of war," large capacity magazines, and any modifiers that increase fire rate.
Close background check loopholes.
Include domestic abusers in Michigan's prohibited purchaser provisions.
Require law enforcement to disarm individuals who become prohibited purchasers after purchasing a weapon, being issued a handgun purchase license, or receiving a concealed carry permit.
Reintroduce discretion into the concealed pistol permit process. Michigan is known as a "shall issue" state.
Prohibit the open carry of firearms in public buildings and registered private establishments.

Source: 2018 Michigan Governor campaign website AbdulForMichigan.com Mar 21, 2018

The above quotations are from Survey of 2018 Gubernatorial campaign websites. Click here for other excerpts from Survey of 2018 Gubernatorial campaign websites. Click here for other excerpts by Abdul El-Sayed. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021