Michigan gun owners might be the latest to be able to enjoy constitutional carry—that is, if some Republican lawmakers get their way. A measure under consideration in the state House of Representative would make Michigan the 30th state to have such a law on the books.
Filed on March 3, HB 5653 would do away with the requirement for lawful Michigan gun owners to pay a fee and jump through bureaucratic hoops to practice their Second Amendment right to carry a firearm for self-defense. And a few other bills introduced in conjunction with HB5653 would ensure that it is implemented properly.
“For the government of the state of Michigan to tell that that we have to be qualified under the guise of their rules in order to protect ourselves is a far cry from what the constitution provides for us,” Rep. Jay DeBoyer, one of the bill’s sponsors, told WMMT News.
Another sponsor of the bill, Rep. Joe Fox, explained the importance of the measure during a press conference on the bill. And he pointed out the effectiveness of Constitutional Carry laws in states that have passed such a measure.
“Over the past few decades, there has been a sharp increase in the number of CPL applications across our nation,” Fox said. “Clearly, government overreach is encouraging Americans to secure their Second Amendment right to carry a firearm and to utilize that firearm, especially for self-defense…Constitutional carry states tend to experience a reduction in violent crime following the enactment of these constitutional carry laws.”
Rep. Jim DeSana, who also is a sponsor of the measure, pointed out that the bill just recognizes a constitutionally protected right.
“When we exercise other First Amendment rights like our right to speak, we do not have to get a permit or permission from the government to speak,” Rep. DeSana said. “When we exercise our right to worship, we do not have to go get a permit or permission to go worship. The right to self-defense and the right to bear arms is the ultimate right in America. It protects your life.”
Other measures introduced in conjunction with HB 5653 are also strongly supported by Republicans in the state legislature and include HB 5654, HB 5655, HB 5656 and HB 5657.
According to a report by the National Rifle Association (NRA), HBs 5655, 5656 and 5657 make necessary updates to Michigan statutes so that individuals who may lawfully possess a firearm are not penalized for carrying a concealed pistol without a permit if Constitutional Carry is enacted. HB 5654 repeals additional provisions tied to Michigan’s current concealed pistol licensing requirements to ensure the law is applied consistently.
Ultimately, with Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, an outspoken gun-ban advocate, currently holding top office, it’s not likely that these measures will pass this session. But lawmakers are building for a future push that might have a better chance of passage after Whitmer is out of office.
“This and many other bills that we are doing in the House, I would call them practice for the future,” Rep. Fox told Fox2detroit.com. “We are about making a statement that there is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things, and we would like to keep putting forth what we see as the right way. And this aligns with the Constitution.”
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