Republicans in Michigan’s legislature have already introduced a permitless carry bill this session, but they’re also taking aim at some of the state’s “gun-free zones.”
Under a newly-introduced House bill, several locations that are currently off-limits to concealed carry would be open to lawful gun owners, though even if the permitless carry bill were to become law, a carry license would still be required in bars, churches, hospitals, arenas, entertainment venues and several other locations.
State Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, said giving private property owners the option to allow concealed carry in these places is important because it can help thwart those who seek to do harm.
DeBoyer pointed to a recent example, where a man on March 12 rammed a truck into a Metro Detroit synagogue and exchanged gunfire with an armed security guard at the synagogue.
Authorities say the man took his own life after becoming trapped in his burning vehicle. Authorities initially said the security guard killed the man but later corrected that account. A security guard was injured in the attack.
“Had the individuals that were there acting as the security force for that synagogue not been armed, this could have been a significant tragedy much larger than it was,” DeBoyer said. “The reality is there are good guys and there are bad guys in the world.
Current statute in Michigan prohibits concealed carry in houses of worship unless the “presiding official or officials of the church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other place of worship permit the carrying of concealed pistol,” so in that respect the proposed law wouldn’t change much. However, Michigan law includes a blanket prohibition on carrying in houses of worship in all public or private child care centers and “child caring institutions.” The synagogue in Michigan has both a K-12 school and a pre-school on the premises, as do many other churches and houses of worship across the state, and in those locations concealed carry is not allowed.
Retired police officers and licensed security guards can still carry guns on that property, but for many smaller congregations hiring armed guards isn’t financially feasible. If nothing else, the GOP bill would allow houses of worship with educational facilities attached to use trained and vetted volunteers and parishioners to serve as security; a common sense improvement over the current law.
There’s one big hang-up, however.
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, said her chamber would not take up the bills should they pass the Republican-controlled House.
That includes the permitless carry bill as well as the bill repealing some of the state’s “gun-free zones.”
Now, I don’t expect Democrats to get behind Constitutional Carry, or frankly any legislation that aids in the exercise of our Second Amendment rights. Still, I’d like Brinks to look pastors, rabbis, imams, and parents in the eye and tell them that if they want students and staff to be protected while they’re in class on the property of a religious institution, they’re going to have to come up with the cash to hire armed security instead of designating members of the congregation to serve as a first-line of defense in the case of an attack like the one we saw in West Broomfield last week.
Temple Israel has a large congregation and money to have an in-house security team, but not every religious institution can say the same. I think every one of the “gun-free zones” targeted by Michigan Republicans should be open to concealed carry unless property owners choose otherwise, but if nothing else the law forbidding concealed carry in religious centers with schools or daycare facilities should be repealed as quickly as possible to give the leaders of those institutions the choice to decide for themselves how best to protect the kids in their care.
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