Senator reintroduces controversial gun bill

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A controversial gun bill – similar to one recently vetoed by Governor Snyder – has been reintroduced in Lansing.

Michigan Public Radio Network’s Jake Neher has been covering the story. The initial vetoed legislation, he said, was brought to public attention on the last day of the 2014 "lame duck" session, when legislators raised some concern about the bill's language.

Neher said the language in question seemed to make it possible for people to get a concealed pistol license even if they had personal protection orders, or PPO’s, levied against them. There were concerns that domestic abusers or stalkers could get the permits.

This realization “set off a firestorm,” Neher said. Advocates for people in domestic abuse situations were particularly concerned.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell was one of those concerned advocates. We spoke with herlast week. 

In response to those concerns, Governor Snyder vetoed the bill. However, Neher said the governor did agree with the bill’s original intentions.

Now, Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville, is reintroducing the measure.

“We took out the language referencing the PPO references and basically the whole bill is identical to the one he vetoed, except for the PPO issue,” Green said.

Neher outlined the aim behind the revised bill:  He said the bill would end county gun boards, which are responsible for issuing concealed pistol licenses, or CPL’s. Those responsibilities would instead be handled by county clerks and the Michigan State Police, who would be put in charge of background checks.

“It basically would make it so that instead of county by county deciding who can get a concealed pistol license, we’d have more of a uniform system across the state,” Neher said. “It would be more streamlined so people in certain counties aren’t waiting for months and months to get an answer on whether or not they’re going to get their CPL.”

Listen above to hear more – including whether the bill is expected to pass.

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