Michigan is considering move to ban guns inside state Capitol Building

[alp227]

Source: Detroit Free Press

LANSING — The Michigan Capitol Commission has sought legal advice and could make a decision Monday on whether guns should be banned inside the Capitol, the vice chairman of the commission said Tuesday.

The longstanding practice of allowing open carry of firearms inside the Capitol came under national scrutiny Thursday when demonstrators, some carrying long guns, pressed together outside the entrance to the House chamber and shouted to be allowed inside.

Earlier, several hundred protesters gathered on the Capitol lawn, urging the Legislature not to extend Michigan's coronavirus state of emergency, which provides the legal basis for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order and other emergency orders. Whitmer extended the state of emergency through May 28 without legislative approval. The stay-at-home order runs through May 15.

Demonstrators carrying rifles entered the Senate public gallery and shouted at state senators on the chamber floor.

Read more: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/05/05/michigan-capitol-guns-inside-banned/3083564001/

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In 1967, after the Black Panthers held an armed protest at the state capitol, California passed the Mulford Act that prohibited open carry in public places. It was signed by a governor named Ronald Reagan.

[Fullduplexxx]

1. They are banned at the federal buildings arent they?

[BComplex]

7. I believe they are. And courthouses across the country.

All state houses should be no gun zones.

[ChiTownDenny]

2. Gee, ya think?

SMH

[FailureToCommunicate]

3. I'm gonna guess a new law banning guns will only apply to non-whites...

...if history is any guide.

[HeartachesNhangovers]

26. I'm going to guess you're wrong because a law like that wouldn't withstand any kind of scrutiny,

would be immediately challenged, and would be immediately set aside by any court in the country. If you have an example of such a law going into effect in the last 100 years, anywhere in the US, let me know.

[FailureToCommunicate]

29. I'm gonna guess you didn't read the article. It's about banning guns (in the building)

[HeartachesNhangovers]

31. No kidding. The article doesn't say that a possible law banning guns would only apply to

"non-whites" (your term). That was your ridiculous suggestion. I called you on your nonsense, and all you have is an emoji.

[FailureToCommunicate]

33. My suggestion that gun laws are less likely to be enforced on whites is "nonsense"??

You need to look up "white privilage"

The OP actually has a helpful example at the bottom of his post. Guns in public building only became a problem when Blacks wanted the same carry laws as whites.

But I see now that your favorite DU group is the NRA/guns group, so there is no hope that you will have anything but more NRA rebuttals to throw back at me.

I am no longer interested in engaging with you on this topic. Good night.

[solara]

4. Really? They are 'considering' a move

to ban guns inside Capitol Bldg?

considering?

geez

[cstanleytech]

5. Simply ban using guns as intimidation at a rally.

That would protect the state as its not banning those protesting their 2nd amendment right but it would ban the usage like they recently had in michigan where the guns were clearly being used for intimidation purposes.

[docgee]

19. Right. That's when it ceased being a peaceful protest.

[DBoon]

25. It's not a political protest when guns are carried

It's an occupation

[rickyhall]

6. Metal detectors at Tarrant & Johnson County's courthouse last time was there.

People forget that 1 word in the 2nd Amendment: "regulated". I've never seen the problem with regulating guns. But then again the whole thing should depend on that whole 1st phrase: "A well regulated Militia". I believe in this right, but not everywhere and not fucking military or military-like weapons.

[Bayard]

8. So..... they allow them now?

I didn't think that was legal anywhere. Its certainly not in any courthouse I've ever been in, so I can't imagine letting them in a state capital.

"The Senate public gallery" could become a shooting gallery.

[sarisataka]

16. Yes, it is legal now

So as horrible as the suggestions over the weekend for the police to shoot those protesters or call the NG and use tanks against them, the protesters were not even breaking the law. (Being an obnoxious moron is not illegal yet either)

[moriah]

30. Oh, the ones shoving against cops and yelling in their faces were.

However, had they started to arrest any of them for their various crimes, it would have gotten out of hand.

Just a few:

Disturbance of lawful meetings—Any person who shall make or excite any disturbance or contention in any tavern, store or grocery, manufacturing establishment or any other business place or in any street, lane, alley, highway, public building, grounds or park, or at any election or other public meeting where citizens are peaceably and lawfully assembled, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Clearly they were causing a disturbance to the legislators who were lawfully assembling.

Resisting/obstructing an officer-- Assault, batter, wound, obstruct, or endanger an officer enforcing an ordinance, law, rule, order, or resolution of the common council of a city board of trustees, the common council or village council of an incorporated village, or a township board of a township. "Obstruct" includes the use or threatened use of physical interference or force or a knowing failure to comply with a lawful command. A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.

Clearly those who were shoving against officers to get on the floor were guilty of this crime.

------

I understand why police are reticent to do mass arrests regarding these protests.

It isn't even necessarily the thought that they'd shoot vs be arrested. To be honest, veteran protesters treat their arrests as honorable stories -- they'd be all for getting arrested, like that anti-vaccine protester demanded to be arrested. They'd want the notoriety.

It's that trying to get all of them processed and given their court dates would overwhelm a local jail system AND potentially expose staff and inmates to COVID-19 unnecessarily.

I just hope people don't start getting the idea that this is proper behavior.

[packman]

9. REALLY, I wonder why

Take that foot out of your mouth protestors, they are coming for your guns. There is some cosmic irony in this. Protestors carry guns inside the Capitol, guns my get banned. Kinda love the karma going on there.

Hard to believe Michigan had such a stupid practice of allowing guns inside in the first place.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Always with Republicans: horses and barn doors.

[moonseller66]

11. They're CONSIDERING it?

imagine a group of "liberals" with "toy guns" storming any Republican gathering, town hall meeting or whatever. Now imagine those "liberals" weren't all white. And what would happen. And how the Republicans would have the Police react.

Got that image? Good. Now consider the consequences of "Considering."

A lot of "good people" on (at least ) one side might get hurt.

And maybe it won't be on the side you think.

[LonePirate]

12. Republicans control the MI legislature so if it passes they are voting against their base.

[Yeehah]

13. Ummmmm...why should legislators be more safe than the rest of us?

"Guns everywhere!! (except around us)"

[sarisataka]

18. Catch-22

[greenjar_01]

14. GOP controls the legislature

Every Dem should put the bill before the Michigan legislature and allow the Republicans to let everyone know where they stand.

[Ford_Prefect]

15. They need to ban weapons from public places including long and short arms with no exceptions

for concealed carry.

In "gunny world" you are either a target or a killer waiting to shoot.

[iluvtennis]

17. Good. People packing guns shouldn't be allowed in public buildings. The Michigan protesters should

have been arrested.

Back in 1967, the police arrested the Black Panthers on felony charges of conspiracy to disrupt a legislative session.

The Michigan anti-lockdown protesters were disrupting legislative sessions and should have been arrested.

[jmowreader]

20. Remember my First Rule of Politics

“A politician’s first loyalty is to his seat.”

If Michigan’s alegislators think passing a common sense law like this will get them voted out, they won’t pass it.

[AllaN01Bear]

21. good on them, but thos yahoos should have been busted in the first place for bringing their weapons

if u or i as dems and with permits and all and or blacks , we would have been slammed to the ground or shot and the national gaurd called out . dual standard here .

[Historic NY]

22. You can bet if a group of heavily armed black people show up they pass it PDQ...

get a few of those 50cal's. The Republican would need Depends.

[llmart]

23. Unfortunately for us, the legislature is full of their own special group of MAGATs...

who worship their guns. I would be totally surprised if this came to pass.

Anyone else remember the story of David Jaye, a representative (GOP of course) whose pistol fell out of his jacket (or something like that) while the house was in session?

[Jim__]

24. Sounds like a smart move. - n/t

[HeartachesNhangovers]

27. Of course that restriction is being considered. Politicians wouldn't have allowed

guns in the capitol if they believed that people would actually exercise the right during a political protest.

[Marrah_Goodman]

28. Allowing them in the first place was incredibly stupid

[Initech]

32. There should be a national ban on weapons in government buildings. No exceptions.

Don't care if it violates that precious 2A... some places you should not be allowed to carry weapons. PERIOD.