Guns in church?: Legislation proposes loosening Michigan's rules on where concealed weapons are allowed
Published: Sunday, February 13, 2011, 10:05 AM Updated: Sunday, February 13, 2011, 10:47 AM
By Rex Hall Jr. | Kalamazoo Gazette KALAMAZOO — Supporters say it would give law-abiding citizens with concealed-weapon permits the ability to even better protect themselves — and others — from harm.
Detractors question the logic and whether passage of the legislation could create a danger by unnecessarily allowing firearms into otherwise safe — and gun-free — environments.
The debate surrounds a measure introduced last month in Lansing that would repeal a section of the state’s concealed-carry law that prohibits permit holders from carrying their firearms into schools, churches, day care centers, sports arenas, bars and college dorms and buildings, among other places.
The amendment was introduced by state Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville, who, as a state representative, sponsored the concealed weapons law approved by legislators a decade ago that made it easier to get a permit for a concealed weapon.
Green said he did not want gun-free zones included in the original law but compromised because of concerns raised by others.
There have been relatively few incidents since the law was passed 10 years ago, he said, evidence that citizens can be responsible in any environment.
“Frankly, I think someone in our schools need to have a gun,” Green said.
Phil Reames, a certified firearms instructor and chairman of the Kalamazoo County Gun Board, said he believes Green’s legislation is a move in the right direction to bring Michigan in line with other states.
Indiana, for example, has concealed-carry laws without gun-free zones and has experienced few, if any, problems, he said.
“(Permit holders) aren’t the people you have to worry about,” Reames said. “These are the law-abiding citizens. They’re not out there causing trouble.”
Even so, Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Pali Matyas said Green and the legislation are “misguided.” He doubts the bill will come out of committee with the repeal of gun-free zones.
“There’s just no reason to be going to school and some of these places with a gun on your belt and then claim that it’s my constitutional freedom to do that,” Matyas said.
“I don’t think the constitution was meant to be applied for individual persons’ individual agendas and that seems to be what’s happening.
“Sooner or later, you have to insert common sense.”
Opinions differ
Other local law enforcement officials agree with Matyas.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley said he thinks both sides in the debate offer valid points.
But he questions whether eliminating the gun-free zones could pose a safety issue and if it would change how police respond to emergencies at those venues where concealed weapons would be allowed if the legislation passed.
“I see there’s a lot more downside than upside in terms of where I sit as Public Safety chief and responding to some of those locations,” Hadley said.
“It’s going to change the way we approach things and that would probably be the most prominent downside. The problem being that police officers don’t know who is who in a stressful, rapidly evolving situation.”
In Kent County, Sheriff Larry Stelma believes eliminating the gun-free zones is a “moot” issue and doesn’t envision any trouble with concealed-weapon permit holders having weapons at churches and schools.
Stelma said he can only recall one or two instances since 2001 in which someone hasviolated his or her concealed-weapons permit.
Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Fink said his office’s experience with permit holders has been similar to that described by Stelma.
He said that despite his concerns in 2001 that changes to the concealed-weapons law would cause safety issues, those problems have not materialized.
He said his office has not seen a significant number of cases of permit holders using their firearms inappropriately.
Fink said he has not reviewed Green’s legislation, which is before a Senate judiciary committee, and declined to comment on it.
But he did say he agreed with Ottawa County Prosecutor Ron Frantz, who opposes the bill and said he’s “not convinced it’s necessary or appropriate.”
Jared Fulton, a senior training counselor with the National Rifle Association and co-owner of the Southside Sportsman Club and Freedom Firearms in Battle Creek, said he doesn’t believe problems would arise if law-abiding permit holders are allowed to carry firearms in areas where they are now outlawed.
“I don’t carry a gun to be a big macho man,” Fulton said. “I carry a gun because I know there are bad people out there, and I want to go home to my kids tonight.
“If the law passes and people use it with common sense ... and be the law-abiding citizens that we already are, I don’t think there are going to be any problems.”
Contact Rex Hall Jr. at rhall@kalamazoogazette.com or 269-388-7784. The Gazette News Service contributed to this report.
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