LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following response after the Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 4434, which would dramatically reduce the penalty for carrying a hidden, loaded handgun in public without a valid Concealed Pistol License.
“Our permit system is in place for good reason, and weakening it would create new problems for Michigan law enforcement,” said Emily Durbin, volunteer chapter leader with the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “The last thing lawmakers should be doing is making public safety laws more lax. We’ll be urging our senators to listen to law enforcement and to constituents — and to reject this attempt to loosen Michigan’s gun laws.”
Current Michigan law requires a person to have a Concealed Pistol License in order to carry a concealed handgun in public. Concealed Pistol Licenses help keep Michigan communities safe by ensuring that only qualified individuals can carry concealed handguns in public. By drastically reducing the punishment for carrying a hidden, loaded handgun in public without a license, HB 4434 would seriously weaken the current Concealed Pistol License system and threaten public safety.