MI: Governor Snyder Signs Michigan Gun Reform of CPL Process

Gun Watch ^ | 5 March, 2015 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Governor Rick Snyder has signed the concealed carry reform bills into law.
Governor Snyder, who vetoed virtually the same bills only six weeks ago, signed them just hours ago.  Senate Bills 34 and 35 are now Public acts 3 and 4 of 2015.    The bills had passed with strong, veto proof majorities in both the House and Senate.

County gun boards are eliminated by the bills, with a number of other reasonable reforms.   The gun boards were put in place in 1927.   In 1925, a black man, Dr. Ossian Sweet, had used a handgun to defend his family from a mob  attack.  Some have claimed that the Michigan legislature, lobbied by the KKK, passed the handgun permit law  to keep black people disarmed.

In 1931 Michigan became the first state to ban short barreled rifles and shotguns, a ban that was copied from Michigan law into the infamous National Firearms Act of 1934.  Michigan's ban on short barreled rifles and shotguns was eliminated last year, but now relies on the old federal law for licensing and taxes on short barreled guns.  Just as with the gun boards, it was hard to find any serious reason for the existence of the law, now that the second amendment has been incorporated to the states.   From mlive.com:

Senate Bills 34 and 35, now Public Acts 3 and 4 of 2015, call for the elimination of county gun boards by December. Duties will be transferred to county clerks and the Michigan State Police.

"These bills streamline how we issue concealed pistol licenses, creating a uniform system that will better support the rights of firearm owners in Michigan," Snyder said in a statement

 Other reforms in the new law are:

• No charge for second set of fingerprints if required by the state.
• If no permit or disqualification in 45 days, receipt acts as permit.
• Plastic, not paper used for the permit material
• Notification of expiration 3-6 months before expiration  
• Allow online application of renewal
• Active duty military and reserves to be able to apply for renewal by mail if on duty outside the state.
• Expiration date of permit extended if renewal made in time.
• Range time for renewal requirement met with certification on renewal form that applicants have complied with 3 hours review of training, 1 hour range time, within 6 months of renewal.
• Record keeping by the State patrol of offenses committed by license holders.

The last is of interest to researchers, as it insures more complete coverage of information, all put in an easily read format.   Legal gun owners in Michigan have been an extremely well behaved group.  As in the other states, they commit crimes less often than police do.  I predict that this reform on data collection will make that fact even clearer in the next few years.  It would be worth while if a similar process were put in place for police officers.

 While second amendment supporters are happy that Governor Snyder signed the reform bills into law, it took them three tries, and overwhelming, veto proof majorities in the legislature to bring him to the table.

It is clear that this is an educational process.  As more and more people obtain concealed carry permits, more people become educated about the facts concerning guns, crime, and self defense.   As more become educated, resistance to second amendment reforms fade away. 

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.  Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

Governor Snyder probably signed because he did not want the embarrassment of a veto override.

[cripplecreek]

Wonder what changed his mind.



Michigan legislative action thread

[Tulane]

Hey, he did the right thing. Give credit where credit is due.

[marktwain]

Yes, his signature is better than a third senseless veto.

But just as forced charity is not true charity. This signature simply means that his arm can be twisted. That is better than an unthinking ideologue of the left, for certain.

[gorush]

Any change in their tough reciprocity requirements that you know of?

[exnavy]

We need to go constitutional carry.

[faithhopecharity]

Permits and their implication of possible denial infringe on Americans’ fundamental rights. Government has no business requiring permits. ..”the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed .”

[marktwain]

Constitutional carry is in play in 6-7 states right now. All of them have shall issue laws.

It is a step by step process.

We are winning on this issue.

[cripplecreek]

We’re getting there.

As far as I’m concerned any man too dangerous to own a gun is a man too dangerous to walk the street. Lock up truly violent and dangerous people and keep them locked up. Leave the rest of us alone.

[faithhopecharity]

Yes. There is progress. What’s needed next is the recognition that permits are not needed (are an unconstitutional governmental activity). Hopefully,

[cripplecreek]

Permits aren’t required for open carry in Michigan. I’ve never understood the reason for needing one for concealed carry.

[faithhopecharity]

that’s good about open carry....congrats!
there is no conceivable excuse for the state to try to impose a permit requirement on a constitutionally-protected activity...not with our Constitution and not with the history that went into the writing of that cornerstone social contract for our society

nevertheless, the progress in Michigan is good news...
every small step forward is still a step forward
thanks

[marktwain]

“Permits aren’t required for open carry in Michigan. I’ve never understood the reason for needing one for concealed carry.”

Most of the concealed carry bans were meant to keep certain groups of people from being armed. These were those considered outside of mainstream society, slaves, then freed blacks, hispanics in Texas and California, Chinese and Japanese, and Eastern European immigrants. All of the “right people” understood that these laws were not to be applied to the white middle and upper classes. But over time, the elites got scared, particularly in the early 1900s and in the middle 1960s, so they started seriously enforcing the law against all those but the elites, who could always get a permit a dollar a year badge.

[marktwain]

should be “permit or a dollar a year badge.”

[blu]

Where are the reciprosities tough? Here’s a link for the most current rules:

http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

[gorush]

This is what Yo-Yo said a couple of days ago:

Michigan only recognizes Utah permits for Utah residents. It does not recognize the non-resident permits from any other state.

Hence my question, but I feel better now, thanks.

[gorush]

...and thanks for that link. Beautiful!

[300winmag]

I’ve never understood the reason for needing one for concealed carry.

An "unlimited" CCW was always a mark of privilege in Michigan. Now the elites push for a "LEO-type" super-CCW that lets them carry in forbidden zones, and is supposed to awe any podunk cop that dares to stop them.

Those are still out there, as is the "private" database that the state attorney general allows cops and federal alphabet agencies to browse. It's mainly for amusement purposes, since it is a record of only valid CCW holders. The data is included with any inquiry into vehicle license number, or your name. The bored "LEOs" can watch you do the official kabuki dance required when stopped by The Law, and give you several hours of harassment if you get one word out of place.

This $50million/year system is declared by all county and state prosecutors, and "political" cops, as the one safeguard that prevents blood from running in the streets, regardless of how "shall issue" is working. It ain't going away, no matter how hard up Michigan is for $50million to spend on other things.

[Tulane]

Agree.