So, so, so very sad. The news out of Connecticut is especially ironic because our legislators and Governor Snyder are passing stupid laws. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines stupid as "given to unintelligent decisions or acts; acting in an unintelligent or careless manner; lacking common sense". The present decisions made by the majority party in Michigan right now are therefore stupid.
The foremost stupid law passed THIS WEEK is Michigan House Bill and Senate Bill 59 which allows concealed weapons in so called "gun-free" zones: schools, day care centers, sports arenas, bars, places of worship, hospitals, dorms and casinos.
Please continue reading below.
This bill is currently waiting for Governor Snyder's signature. Will he or won't he? That's the big question right now. The Sandy Hook School undoubtedly gives Snyder pause to reconsider the wisdom of such a bill.
Under this concealed weapons bill, signs may be posted at each of the "gun free" zones stating that guns are not allowed. "We're not repealing the zones," said Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville, the bill's sponsor. "We're simply making Michigan law for a concealed pistol license consistent and doing so in a responsible way with more training." Huh? It's bad enough to have concealed weapons where children and worshippers are present, but how will that play out in a bar with most customers imbibing alcohol?
Sec.5j of HB59 states: ... training was provided within 5 years preceding the date of application and consisted of not less than 8 hours of instruction... The program provides at least 3 hours of instruction on a firing range and requires firing at least 30 rounds of ammunition or, for certificates issued on or after May 1, 2013, provides at least 3 hours of instruction on a firing range and requires firing at least 98 rounds of ammunition.
The bill itself is lengthy and has many conditions. Among the conditions stated, retired military police and retired police may be exempt from this law. Apparently they are trustworthy and do not need 8 hours of extra training. There is no limit given on how long the person has been retired or how old the individual may be.
Crazy, huh? Instead of restricting access to semi-automatic and automatic weapons, in Michigan we are expanding who can carry a concealed weapon. As if the new concealed carry gun owners are going to have a shoot out with a terrorist or other gun-wielding individual in a school, daycare, local bar, church or stadium? Really? Can you imagine if the principal or school psychologist tried to return fire with the Sandy Hook shooter? I can't fathom how this would work out.
In the old days, I remember my dad saying "Two wrongs don't make a right". The gunman at Sandy Hook was wrong. How are we going to make it right with more guns?