LANSING, Mich. — In an interview with FOX 17 Thursday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the riots at the U.S. Capitol brings ongoing safety concerns at the state Capitol back to the forefront.
“Let me say this in no uncertain terms, our state Capitol is not safe, I would advise people not to go to our state Capitol if they can avoid it,” Nessel said.
Let me repeat this in no uncertain terms:
— Dana Nessel (@dananessel) January 7, 2021
Our state Capitol is not safe. https://t.co/eKxAiRHXqo
Nessel says it’s time for the Capitol to ban all weapons, including guns.
A debate that picked back up after a group of heavily armed people stormed the state Capitol in April to protest Governor Whitmer's stay-at-home order.
SEE MORE: Banning guns at Michigan Capitol could happen as early as this month
“The fact that we’ve had this set of circumstances occur now, not just of course, in our own capitol, where very easily those individuals could have taken hostages could have caused a massacre, but when we saw what happened of course at the Nation's capitol yesterday. If that doesn't inspire either the Capital Commission, or the state legislature to take immediate action to ban all weapons including guns from the Capitol. I don't know what well, it is not a safe place to be,” Nessel said.
On Thursday morning, the Capitol was briefly closed because of another threat.
SEE MORE: Police clear Michigan Capitol building after bomb threat forced temporary closure
"I'm deeply concerned for our state legislators who work at the Capitol, I'm concerned for their staff., I'm concerned for journalists who feel as though they have to appear in person. I'm concerned for just those of us around the state that wish to visit our state's Capitol which we should have the ability to do," Nessel added.
Nessel called Wednesday's events incredibly disturbing and a stain on the history of America, fueled by conspiracy theories.
"Those who are elected officials in positions of power need to stop promoting conspiracy theories because we now know exactly what it can lead to ,it leads to civil unrest and it's the tipping point for not just the erosion of our democracy, but destruction of it." Nessel said.
Dozens have been arrested for their alleged involvement, including a handful of people from Michigan.
Nessel hasn't ruled out potential charges as investigations continue.
"I will say that most of what we saw would involve federal charges, but there is the possibility that there are state charges at play, and that there are state laws may have been violated. I won't rule out the investigation and potentially charging people that were involved that came from the state of Michigan."
SEE MORE: Guns in capitol building ‘not what we signed up for’ says state rep
