Michigan Senate May Say “yes” to Concealed guns in schools; EL School Board Says “no”

Members of Michigan’s Senate may decide as early as this week whether or not to let concealed weapons into Michigan’s “gun-free zones,” such as schools and universities. In mid-October, educators, alongside members of the public and state law-makers, discussed the proposed legislation at the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in which Senators voted 4-1 in favor of the Senate Bill 442.

Michigan educators, however, were strongly opposed. “Every single person that spoke at the hearing who is in the world of education, whether in K12, or a public university was opposed besides one superintendent,” says Erin Graham, member of the East Lansing School Board.

Current Michigan law does not prohibit the open carry of firearms at community colleges, public libraries, or universities, but does prohibit concealed weapons in those places, as well as at day care centers, sports stadiums, large entertainment spaces, bars, churches, hospitals, casinos, and dormitories.

Supporters of the bill alongside its sponsor, Senator Mike Green, consider the legislation a compromise, reasoning that the motion will satisfy both sides on this issue because gun owners will still be able to exercise their second amendment rights, but the bill will eliminate the distraction caused by the open carry of firearms.

"The funny thing about this bill is that the hard core gun enthusiasts are also opposed," says Graham, referring to gun owners that claim an undeniable right to carry their open firearms in any public space. "Personally,” she remarks, “I think when you put guns in a place where there weren't guns before there is a higher chance of gun violence."

Graham does not speak on behalf of the East Lansing School Board, however the board did release a statement clarifying their position on the proposed legislation: “That the Board of Education of the East Lansing Public schools oppose senate bill 442; and further, the board of education does not support the presence of any weapons, open or concealed, on school property at any time with the exception of those carried by public safety officials.”

Graham recalls incidents such as the one that occurred this past spring not far from East Lansing, in Macomb Township, where a man left behind his jacket and concealed pistol at a local elementary school. She points out that while police officers licensed to carry weapons receive extensive training, "People with concealed carry licenses have eight hours of training and accidents happen. Even police officers make mistakes, because they’re human... if trained police officers make mistakes, how many mistakes will people with only eight hours of training make?"

ELi will continue to follow this story as part of our continuing coverage of schools and locally-important legislation.