Safety under fire

Absurdity governs new firearm regulations

Presently, roughly 52,000 people in the state of Michigan possess a concealed weapons permit. Those 52,000 permits were granted under the old set of Michigan concealed weapons laws that required applicants to provide a valid reason for the possession of a concealed weapon. Thanks to a bill signed by Republican Governor John Engler, this number is estimated to double in the coming year.

On Tuesday, January 2, 2001, Engler signed a new concealed weapon bill that removes the clause requiring applicants to provide a reason for concealed weapons possession. The Michigan State Police estimate that the number of applications for concealed weapons will skyrocket and that the number of people granted concealed weapon permits will bring the total number of concealed weapons in circulation will increase to as much as 120,000. The bill, Public Act 381, is a dangerous threat to not only police officers, but also to law-abiding citizens who do not wish to endanger themselves or their families by purchasing a weapon.

An armed population is, according to Washtenaw County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Burke, "a heck of an experiment" the Ann Arbor News reported. He voiced serious concerns regarding the impact of this bill on urban crime rates, escalation of otherwise simple fights and children finding guns in their parents' homes. These concerns are echoed by a group of Michigan citizens, who are seeking 150,000 signatures in an attempt to repeal the bill. Unfortunately, the bill has a $1 million provision for trigger locks and firearm education, which makes the bill an expenditure measure. Such measures are protected from voter referendums, essentially making the bill untouchable by Michigan citizens. By tagging a spending measure onto the bill, the state Congress guaranteed that this dangerous new law would not be impacted by the opinion of the people.

Luckily there are provisions in the bill that do put restrictions on concealed weapon ownership. The major ones include a 21-year old age limit, a mandatory gun safety course, restrictions of concealed weapons in schools, daycare centers, bars or hospitals and a mandate that all permits be registered with a state-wide tracking system available to all law-enforcement agencies. Most of the new laws are simply minor changes to the previous concealed weapons laws, and were included as a compromise for the largest and most frightening, change in the law; the elimination of the need for intent in obtaining a concealed weapons permit.

Donald Homan, the County Sheriff for Livingston County, also quoted by the News, said that the new bill is "too lenient." He acknowledged the importance of securing gun ownership rights and said that Livingston County has always done its best to ensure these rights for its population. But he expressed concern over the ability of people to obtain a concealed weapon with no proof of intent. His fears are not in vain; this bill may be an asset to a small percentage of the population who feel the need to carry weapons, but will prove to be disastrous for Michigan citizens as a whole.

Public Act 381 is a threat to everyone, and should never have been signed into law. Increasing the number of weapons in circulation is no way to protect the safety of a population.