I write to you today because 13 Michigan House Democrats (see below for who) have seen it fit to attack our liberty. These lawmakers want to restrict your right to defend yourself when you are out and about (away from your home). They have introduced a bill, HB 5644, that would require that you retreat before you defend yourself or your loved ones. So if someone is pointing a gun at you, you should try to run away first.
Can you outrun bullets? If not, these 13 think you or your loved ones should be able to…or at least try before you can defend yourself. They want to help rapists and muggers to have their way and make you afraid to defend yourself.
What would happen if you were to defend yourself? Well, the prosecutor of your county (do you trust him?) would get to decide (from the comfort of his office, well after the fact) if you “reasonably” had an opportunity to flea from your assailant. If not, he gets to charge you and let 12 other people (who are all sitting in the comfort of a courtroom in a jury box) decide if they agree with him. Is this what you want to have to go through after you just got done defending yourself? A trial where people criticize whether or not you should have tried to run away (and maybe get you or someone you loved killed in the process)? What kind of person would introduce such a law? Well, you’re in luck. I don’t always name names, but here they are:
Timothy Bledsoe – (D-Grosse Pointe) Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit) Harvey Santana (D-Detroit) Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-Muskegon) Maureen Stapleton (D-D-Detroit) Vicki Barnett (D-Farmington Hills) Tom Stallworth (D-Detroit) Alberta Tinsley Talabi (D-Detroit) Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods) Lisa Howze (D-Detroit) Stacy Erwin Oakes (D-Saginaw)
A Call to Action
We must call our elected servants in the Michigan House of Representatives and let them know they should: Oppose HB 5644 and any other efforts to weaken “Stand your Ground”. Support efforts to expand where and when you CAN protect yourself (such as HB 4009 & HB 4010). Coincidently, 4009 and 4010 were introduced by Representative Richard LeBlanc, a Democrat from Westland. I point this out to show you: not all Democrats are anti-gun.
Here’s what I need you to do: Find how to call Your Represenative. Sadly, the Michigan House doesn’t make this as easy as the Michigan Senate. This page will take you to your Representative’s page. You’ll then have to mull around their page to find their phone number. Call or email your State Representative (on Tuesday 5/22 — if you can; if not any other time will work) and deliver them a message: Leave “Stand Your Ground” alone and eliminate so-called Pistol Free Zones! If you are unsure what to say, give this a try:
If your representative isn’t mention above: Hi, my name is <Insert your name> and I am from <Insert the name of your city/village/township> — I am in the representative’s district. I’d like to have a message given to my representative: Leave “Stand Your Ground” alone! Recently, 13 democrats introduced HB 5644 to repeal “Stand Your Ground”. I don’t think I nor my loved ones should have to run away before defend myself and those I love when we come under attack. I am outraged that these democrats would even consider introducing this bill! I am asking my elected representative to oppose this bill in any way they can! I also think my representative should do everything possible to advance bills like HB 4009 and 4010 which we introduced in 2011 by Representative Richard LeBlanc. These two bills would eliminate the so-called Pistol Free Zones.
If your representative IS mentioned above: Hi, my name is <insert your name here> and I am from <insert the name of your city/village/township> — I am in the representative’s district. I am calling to ask this question: How dare my representative attack my right to defend myself by sponsoring a bill like HB 5644?! I will remember this come November! (Then promptly hang up…you won’t be changing their mind. Expressing your contempt is more than enough)
That’s it! Will you take 5 minutes out of your busy day and help defend our rights? I hope I can count on you. Without you, I am only one voice
