Legal gun owners nationwide have been on the defensive following the Parkland school shooting in February. Rather than tackle the root causes of school shootings, anti-gun politicians have proposed a long list of extreme gun control measures including a repeal the Second Amendment. While recent public opinion polling suggests that the voters aren’t buying their arguments, it has sidelined the legislative progress Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners (MCRGO) made in 2017 on bypassing pistol free zones with an enhanced CPL, provisional CPLs for 18-20 year olds, expanded preemption enforcement, and permitless carry. Such measures may have to wait until the post-election lame duck session.
One measure that likely will be considered in the near future is the Michigan School Safety Reform Plan. Authored by a coalition of law enforcement and education organizations, the plan has bi-partisan support in the Michigan Legislature. The core of the plan is increased funding for school resource officers and school mental health professionals. While it doesn’t permit teachers with CPLs to carry, it recognizes the value of having armed defenders in schools. Most importantly, it contains no gun control measures.
The legislation is expected to be introduced in the coming weeks. Once it is, the MCRGO Board of Directors will review the language and take a position.
