Giffords Condemns Michigan Senate’s Approval of a Bill That Would Lead to Concealed Firearms in Schools and Churches
November 8, 2017 – Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Navy combat veteran and NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, issued the following statement today after the Michigan Senate passed a bill that would lead to more concealed guns in public places. Under the legislation, licensed Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) holders could carry a firearm into previously restricted areas like K-12 schools, college and university buildings, childcare centers, sports arenas, bars, churches and more.
Robin Lloyd, Government Affairs Director, Giffords,
If enacted, Senate Bill 584 would allow the licensee to carry concealed firearms into the following places that are otherwise prohibited, including:
- K-12 schools and school property;
- A dormitory or classroom of a community college, college, or university;
- Daycare and childcare centers;
- Sports arenas and stadiums;
- Bars or taverns (even if a sign is posted);
- Houses of worship;
- Entertainment facilities with 2,500+ capacity (even if a sign is posted);
- Hospitals
About Michigan Gun Laws
- Michigan has a mixed record on gun violence prevention, regularly scoring mediocre marks in the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence’s annual Gun Law State Scorecard.
- Michigan does not require firearms dealers to obtain a state licence or allow law enforcement the discretion to deny a concealed handgun license. Michigan also does not impose licensing or background check requirements on long gun purchasers.
- Michigan prohibits any person from possessing a firearm in a “weapon free school zone,” (defined to include any public, private, denominational, or parochial school offering developmental kindergarten, kindergarten, or grades one through twelve), as well as in vehicles used by a school to transport students to or from school property, with some exceptions.
- Michigan law also prohibits concealed handgun license holders from carrying a concealed handgun in a dormitory or classroom of a community college, college, or university.
- Any person who is licensed to carry a concealed handgun, or a resident of another state licensed by that state to carry a concealed handgun, is prohibited from carrying a concealed handgun on the premises of any: Public or private day care center, public or private child caring agency, or public or private child placing agency; Sports arena or stadium; Licensed bar or tavern where the primary source of income is the sale of alcoholic liquor by the glass and consumed on the premises (though this restriction does not apply to an owner or employee of the business); Property or facility owned or operated by a church, synagogue, mosque, temple or other place of worship, (unless the presiding official or officials of the place of worship permit the carrying of a concealed handgun on that property); Entertainment facility that the individual knows or should know has a seating capacity of 2,500 or more individuals or that has a sign above each public entrance stating in letters not less than one-inch high a seating capacity of 2,500 or more individuals; Hospital; or Dormitory or classroom of a community college, college, or university.
- Learn more about gun laws in Michigan here.