[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9424-9425]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                A VICTORY FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT KIDS

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, at the beginning of this year, the State of 
Michigan enacted a ``shall issue'' law that makes it easier to obtain a 
concealed carry permit and will increase the number of guns on our 
streets. The law, which was scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 
2001, takes discretion away from local gun boards and requires 
authorities to issue a license to carry a concealed weapon to any 
applicant who meets basic eligibility requirements.
  Most law enforcement groups in Michigan reject the proliferation of 
concealed weapons in our communities and warn that this law will move 
our State in a dangerous direction. Similarly, gun safety groups, 
including the Michigan Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence and the 
Michigan Million Mom March, have voiced their concerns that the 
expected ten-fold increase in the number of concealed weapons on 
Michigan's streets would jeopardize the safety of our children. These 
and other groups that oppose the ``shall issue'' law joined together to 
form the coalition of People Who Care About Kids and successfully 
collected more that 230,000 signatures on a petition calling for a 
referendum on the law.
  Last week, the Michigan State Court of Appeals came down on the side 
the voters of the State, agreeing that they should be able to decide on 
the law in a referendum. The appeals panel stated

[[Page 9425]]

that ``the overarching right of the people to their `direct legislative 
voice' '' overrides a constitutional prohibition against referenda for 
laws that include spending provisions. Unless the decision is 
overturned by the Michigan Supreme Court, the voters of Michigan will 
be able to voice their opinions on the ``shall issue'' law in a 
referendum in November 2002.
  This unanimous decision by the State Court of Appeals panel is not 
only a victory for the voters of Michigan, but also for the safety of 
our children and the security of our communities. I am convinced the 
people of Michigan want to find ways to decrease the amount of gun 
violence in our communities, not remove discretion from local gun 
boards with the goal of increasing the number of guns on our streets. I 
am pleased that they will have a say in this important issue that so 
directly impacts their lives.

                          ____________________