At the national Level, both the House (HR38) and Senate (S65) have introduced versions of a Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.

Currently in Michigan, individuals must receive a permit to carry a concealed firearm. However, there are many states with permitless carry legislation. This means anyone in those states can carry a concealed, loaded weapon, without a permit, background check, or training. The proposed legislation would mean that all of those untrained individuals (who may well be criminals, as there is no background check) would also be able to carry their concealed weapon in Michigan.

Will this make us safer? The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence does not thinks so. This coalition of 10 national law enforcement leadership organizations is opposed to this legislation. In addition, other law enforcement leaders and organizations, attorneys general, gun violence prevention organizations and the American College of Physicians, (among others) strongly oppose concealed carry reciprocity as it will undermine public safety, put law enforcement at greater risk and increase gun violence in our communities.

Will it make us feel safer? The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s own study admits that concealed carry breeds fear concluding that “more Americans feel less safe when it comes to people legally carrying concealed guns in public.”

Please contact U.S. Rep. Bergman and Senators Slotkin and Peters urging them to oppose this legislation. Ask them to stand with law enforcement leaders and agencies that oppose permitless carry and protect their constituents from fear mongering and the danger of untrained, unpermitted individuals carrying concealed weapons.

Nancy Uschold

Marquette