On Wednesday, a
coalition of parents, mayors, and the Michigan Health and Hospital Association
urged the Legislature to do away with the SB 442, which allows an
individual to carry registered concealed weapons into gun-free zones. This bill
has been reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee, but has received no
further action.
Supporters of this
bill wish to solve the problem of individuals openly carrying a gun into one of
these zones, such as a school but with licensed concealed carry individuals
being unable to do so. Under this legislation, open carry into gun-free zones
would become illegal and concealed carry would be legalized. The idea is that
school shootings and the like will be minimized if permitted individuals could
conceal their gun as a means of protection.
Opponents of this
bill disagree, and see this bill inviting guns into schools, universities,
sports arenas, places of worship, and more. Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, Kristen
Moore, chapter leader with the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun
Sense in America, Rob Casalou, regional president and CEO of Saint Joseph Mercy
Health System, and Ruthann Jaquette, president of the Michigan Parent Teacher
Association, have all spoken against this bill.
Mr. Casalou spoke of
the emotion, stress, and safety of an emergency room environment and believes
guns would taint this. Ms. Jaquette in her comments rejected the notion that
shooters target gun-free zones, citing that less than 13 percent of mass
shootings since 2009 have occurred in these zones.
Some have said SB 442
presents a compromise, but others disagree. Currently, it is unclear when SB
442 might be taken up.