Eliminating "Gun-Free Zones" in Michigan

We all know about the tragedy of "gun-free zones", a.k.a. "criminal empowerment zones" or CEZs. Now a state rep has the fortitude to do something about it. Rep. Daniel J. Acciavatti introduced House Bill 4759 to eliminate CEZs.

Here is a letter he wrote to the Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners, posted on the MCRGO website:

June 12, 2007 -- In 2000 when the Michigan Legislature originally passed concealed weapons legislation, they created so-called "gun free safe zones" to protect Michigan’s citizens. The intent of such legislation is to provide an area where firearms are forbidden and thus make those areas "safer". In effect, two groups of people carry firearms in safe zones: police officers and criminals.

A real life game of "cops and robbers" plays out in these areas while law-abiding citizens are stripped of the ability to defend themselves and must rely on the state and the state alone. These gun-free safe zones are dangerous areas where criminals can target powerless citizens.

Currently, Michigan has nine specific areas which concealed weapon license (CPL) holders are banned from carrying a concealed weapon. These include:

1- Schools or school property; 2- Public or private day care centers; 3- Sports arenas or stadiums; 4- A tavern or bar where the primary source of income is the sale of alcohol/liquor consumed on the premises; 5- Any property of facility owned or operated by a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, other place of worship; 6- An entertainment facility that has a seating capacity of 2,500 or more; 7- A hospital; 8- A dormitory or classroom of a community college, college or university; and 9- Casinos.

Office buildings, hospitals, convenience stores, Post Office buildings, day care centers, schools, universities and chain restaurants have all been targets of shootings with the intent on killing multiple victims. A striking paradox is associated with these incidents because they are much more likely to occur in areas that have been designated as gun free zones.

Schools became a popular target for shootings in the mid 1990’s, around the time that the Gun Free School Zones act of 1994 was enacted. In 1999, John Lott and William Landes published an extensive statistical study of multiple shootings incidents. They showed that mass shootings occur less often in areas where responsible citizens are allowed permits to carry concealed weapons. Have you ever heard of a mass shooting in a police station, a pistol range, or a gun show? Criminals always select a softer target for their acts of violence where they know citizens are unarmed, vulnerable, and where they know people cannot shoot back at them.

Some say we need tougher gun control laws and that allowing guns in selected areas is going to increase crime. However, reports show that crime increases in selected areas that require the citizens to disarm before entering. Citizens with CPL licenses abide by the law and disarm when asked to do so; but criminals with the intent to harm never follow the law and disarm.

Concealed weapon license holders are some of the most law abiding citizens in our state. Over the past five years 203,051 concealed weapon permits have been issued in Michigan and only 671 licenses have been revoked. That equals less than one percent (actually .34%) of all issued licenses that have been revoked.

As a State Representative I was elected to pass laws which protect the citizens of Michigan. That is why I introduced House Bill 4759 into the Michigan House of Representatives on May 15, 2007. This legislation would eliminate the above nine safe zones for all concealed weapon license holders.

I believe this legislation is imperative in protecting Michigan’s citizens. Currently, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary and is awaiting a committee hearing. Good intentions do not necessarily make good laws. What counts is whether the law ultimately saves lives. Unfortunately, our current laws primarily disarm law-abiding citizens and not criminals.

--Representative Daniel J. Acciavatti