Michigan law may change in the near future to allow gun owners more freedom.
Currently, the answer to that question is a resounding no! There are numerous places in Michigan where no one (not even people with concealed carry permits) is allowed to take their gun. Designated gun-free zones in Michigan include:
- Schools
- Churches, and other places of worship
- Bars
- Day Care Centers
- Stadiums and other large concert halls
- Hospitals
- Casinos
- College Dormitories and class rooms
New state Senate bills aim to change gun laws in Michigan
However that may change in the near future! Our Michigan Senate has just passed hotly contested legislation that would allow licensed pistol carriers in the Great Lakes State to keep their guns with them on school property. And at the bar. And in churches, day care centers, and concert halls. In fact, pretty much everywhere they currently can’t take their guns. The reason? It may just help to save lives in the future!
According to Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, who was one of the Senators behind the bills, “I believe citizens have the right to be free and safe and secure and to defend themselves and their loved ones,” he said. “Responsible, well-trained, licensed gun owners may be one of those deterrents to those individuals who seek out gun-free zones as opportunities to commit heinous crimes.”
He also told the Detroit Free Press that a tragic mass shooting like the one in Texas could have been avoided had more people had guns with them at the time. In other words, if more people were armed at some of the more recent shooting incidents, those people could have stepped in and saved those around them.
Many people are opposed to allowing guns in schools and churches!
Not everyone supports this proposed legislation. The bills have met with fierce resistance from including gun-control advocates and the education lobby. According to the opposition, more guns means more people being shot, not less. The Detroit Free Press published an opinion piece in response to the Senate’s support of these bills, entitled “Michigan Senate loses its mind, votes to allow guns in schools and churches!”
The National Rifle Association and other supporters of the new proposal often point to the City of Chicago where the entire city is a gun free zone. The City of Chicago does not have a single gun shop in it’s borders. Criminal defense attorney Charles Kronzek reminds us that year after year, “gun free zone” Chicago is the murder capital of America, averaging more than 50 murders every month.
So what does this mean for you? The answer is: currently, nothing. Although the senate has passed the legislation, it still needs to pass the House before heading to the Governor’s desk for approval. Although the House is GOP-led, which has led many to believe that the bills will gain support there also, Governor Snyder may not support them when they reach his desk for a signature.
In 2012, after the mass shooting of elementary schoolchildren in Connecticut, Governor Snyder refused to sign a similar bill package making Michigan gun carry laws more lenient. With regard to this most recent set of bills, he has refused to comment until they reach him. So as of now, no one knows what the future holds for Michigan gun owners. But The Kronzek Firm will keep a close on these bills, and let you know if your gun rights change!