Mike Levin: “late Wednesday night, the Michigan Legislature passed a bill that, if signed, will have a negative impact on public…”

“late Wednesday night, the Michigan Legislature passed a bill that, if signed, will have a negative impact on public safety in my home state. The legislature passed the ``shall issue'' bill which would require that local licensing authorities ``shall'' or must issue a concealed handgun license to a person who passes a background check and a safety course. Notably, the legislature waited until after the election to pass the legislation. The current law in our state now gives local gun boards discretion to issue concealed gun licenses where a need is shown. Current law allows local gun boards--each made up of a local sheriff, a county prosecutor and a designee of the State police--to determine who should be allowed to carry a concealed handgun. The legislation before the state legislature would take discretion away from local law enforcement and allow virtually any applicant to carry a concealed handgun. In May of 1999, when the State Legislature last took up this bill, a coalition of law enforcement groups led the fight against it. Law enforcement soundly rejects the proliferation of concealed weapons in our communities and have warned that this legislation will move Michigan in a dangerous direction.…”