Concealed weapons bill would loosen restrictions

Indications are there is growing support in both the Senate and House for such legislation. Leaders in both chambers say they generally favor making it easier to carry a gun in Michigan.

Sen. David Jaye (R-Washington Township) sponsor of the Senate bills, says that will discourage criminals because they won't know who is carrying a loaded gun.

"They are hard targets," he said of ordinary citizens who might be packing a gun to ward off criminals. "All rights pale in comparison" with the right to defend yourself against a criminal, he said.

Jaye's Hunting, Fishing and Forestry Committee is slated to take up the bill on Thursday. He predicted overwhelming passage, both in committee and on the Senate floor.

A similar bill is being discussed by a House lawmaker.

And leaders in both chambers, controlled by Republicans, have indicated they favored the measures.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Gov. John Engler said the governor favors the House bill that would standardize gun permitting statewide.

House Speaker Chuck Perricone (R-Kalamazoo Township) predicted passage of a bill to mandate that gun permits be issued when applied for, as long as the applicant qualifies. Now, it is up to county gun boards whether to issue a concealed weapons permit, but backers complain the boards often reject applications automatically.

The Jaye bill would authorize the secretary of state to issue concealed pistol permits, and would require permits for qualified applicants. Now, local gun boards frequently reject such requests.

It would set a $50 application fee, require applicants to be 21 or older, bar felons and mentally ill people and require pistol safety training.

The legislation has gotten little criticism in the Senate committee so far, but law enforcement organizations have said it will just put more weapons on the streets - and create more opportunities for their misuse.

Some 31 states now have laws requiring gun permits to be issued to qualifying people, as Jaye is proposing. He said violent crime has dropped 20 percent in those states because of the more lenient gun laws.

"The record in 31 other states is that people licensed to carry pistols ... have been extremely responsible," Jaye said, saying there has been little misuse of the weapons.

The full Senate, meanwhile, is scheduled to open debate soon on a bill to ban holding school on the Friday before Labor Day. It's a watered-down version of legislation proposed in the past to forbid classes from starting before Labor Day.

And the measure would create a special commission to study the economic impact of school calendars and make recommendations on when schools should start their year.

The tourism industry in Michigan has been pushing for ban on starting school before Labor Day. It says that cuts into summer vacations and their income.

The latest bill, sponsored by Sen. Walter North (R-St. Ignace) would be in effect for three years while the matter was studied.

In the House, debate begins on the death penalty today in the Constitutional Law and Ethics Committee. Testimony also is planned for tomorrow.

Rep. Larry Julian (R-Lennon) said he wants voters to decide on the 2000 ballot whether death is a fair punishment for someone who is convicted of first-degree murder.

Julian, a former Michigan State Police trooper, said it's about time the death penalty received serious debate in the House, which hasn't weighed the issue for some 20 years.

Voters, however, would only decide whether the constitutional ban would be lifted, leaving the details for a later date.

Julian said he intends the death penalty only be used for the most "heinous" murder cases where there is not doubt of guilt.

Jaye has proposed a similar resolution in the Senate.

04-19-99