Michigan Granholm Signs Guns Transport Bill

[LaVere]

Granholm Signs Guns Transport Bill
2006/03/24
Today Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM signed HB 4642 into law (Now Public Act 75), a measure that would allow an individual to carry, possess, use, or transport a pistol belonging to another individual if the pistol were properly licensed and inspected under the law and the individual carrying, possessing, using, or transporting the pistol had obtained a license under the law to carry a concealed pistol.

The rationale behind this legislation: The previous rule was that the handgun licensure law prohibits a person from purchasing, carrying, or transporting a pistol without obtaining a license for the pistol, and requires a person who owns or comes into possession of a pistol to present it to law enforcement officials for an inspection. There is a concern that these requirements might apply when someone who is licensed to carry a concealed pistol transfers it to someone else's care. For example, it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon into a United States Post Office(*), so a licensee may wish to leave the weapon with another person. In addition, a concealed pistol license holder may want to borrow another licensee's pistol on occasion, such as to fire it on a gun range. Some people believe that the law should make an exception to the licensure and inspection provisions when a concealed pistol licensee possesses, uses, or transports another person's registered and inspected pistol.

 

[Thain]

Wow. See folks, there can be such a thing as common sense gun laws.

Buddy has a legal handgun, I've been vetted by the State and have a CCW, I can now borrow Buddy's gun. So long as I don't do anything illegal with it, having it in my holster or hands isn't illegal.

I love this pleasant penninsula, , and can hear the Brady Bunch revving the engine on the old station wagon now.

 

[El Tejon]

Don't send them this way, neighbor!

 

[shermacman]

How utterly charming of her!
She will allow her subjects to enjoy their Constitutional Rights!

 

[Thain]

Sorry, Shermacman, but every gun control law on the books in Michigan is Constitutional, under either the United States or Michigan Constitution(s). Unless you care to challenge one in a court, or can get someone in the legislature to pass a bill, they will remain the way they are.

Look, I'm a Libertarian and a gun owner, but when the RKBA movement treats every advancement in the laws as, "Feh. Not good enough." all it really does is make us all look like the worst sterotypes the neutral middle-of-the-road public is force fed by the anti-defense lobby.

It is constitutional for the State to regulate arms through liscenses, registration, conceal carry permits, import bans, and even to blacklist certain cosmetic or safety features (i.e., the assault weapons ban). Like it or not, the National Firearms Act is also constitutional.

There are three ways to "correct" this, if you wish to do so. First, successfully challenge the law in a courtroom. Secondly, have a new statute written and passed that changes one of the existing laws. Three, ammend the State or Federal Constitution.

HB 4642 is a "win" for law abidding gun owners in this State; it is sensible, logical, and fills a gap in the existing laws. My wife can now take my handgun to the range, and I can hold onto her pistol when she heads into the Post Office to send back our Netflix rental; and we won't be commiting a felony by doing it.

Before HB 4642, it was illegal to do so... and although it was a de jure crime, and a Constitutional one at that, the government of Michigan has realized that it was a crime that didn't make much sense, de facto. They fixed this.

Be happy.