[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S6313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MICHIGAN'S GUN LAWS

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, on New Years Day 2001, the Governor of 
Michigan signed into law a bill to take discretion away from local gun 
boards to issue concealed gun licenses and require authorities to issue 
concealed weapons licenses to any one 21 years or older without a 
criminal record, with limited exceptions. Under the law, the number of 
concealed handgun licenses in our State would grow by 200,000 to 
300,000 a ten-fold increase. Needless to say, the law has the potential 
to increase gun violence in Michigan and endanger the lives of 
thousands of people. Istrongly believe that this law is better suited 
to the old West than the new millennium.
  I am pleased to report that hundreds of thousands of my fellow 
Michiganders agree with me. While the law was scheduled to take effect 
on July 1st of this year, a coalition of law enforcement and community 
groups from across our State called the People Who Care About Kids 
collected 232,582 signatures on a petition to suspend the law and put 
it before the voters in 2002. One of those signatures was mine.
  Now the issue is before the courts. Just last month, a State Appeals 
Court ruled unanimously that the referendum process should proceed. And 
this Wednesday the Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments on whether 
the Appeals Court ruling should stand. For the good of my State and for 
the safety of its citizens, I hope that the Supreme Court upholds the 
lower court ruling and lets the voters decide the issue. If voters are 
given the opportunity, I am confident that this wrongheaded effort to 
roll back Michigan's gun laws will be defeated.

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