LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan’s House has finished two days of voting on bills that revise the state’s gun use and ownership laws.
The House approved several bills Wednesday that would speed up the issuance and renewal of concealed carry permits and eliminate county licensing boards, among other things.
And Thursday’s approved bills in the House would exempt pellet and air guns from some firearms laws, but still define them as weapons for certain hunting laws, as well as prohibit people from being armed with such guns with the intent of unlawful use.
Rep. Jeff Irwin, an Ann Arbor Democrat, said the bills have a “Swiss cheese” nature because they carve out certain air guns, pellet guns and BB guns from some laws while not adding specific regulations for their use.
But Rep. Ray Franz, an Onekama Republican, said it brings Michigan law more in line with federal definitions.
The complete package of House and Senate bills, not all of which were voted on in the House and some of which have yet to reach the Senate, would account for inappropriate activity and make it punishable by the same rules, Franz said.
Rep. Peter Pettalia, a Presque Isle Republican, said the package is necessary because “harmless weapons have fallen through the cracks,” and children should have an opportunity to learn proper gun safety with pellet and air guns.
None of the bills will take effect unless they are all signed by Gov. Rick Snyder.
A similar package of legislation was introduced last session, though only a few of the bills in it reached Snyder. He vetoed those, instead asking all bills in the package arrive at once.
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