Legislation to abolish a concealed carry permit requirement passed the Michigan House Judiciary Committee and will now go before the full House.
The legislation would make the Michigan the 13th state to recognize the Second Amendment as a sufficient carry permit. The other 12 states are Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, and West Virginia. Additionally, Arkansas and Montana recognize permitless carry throughout the majority of their states.
According to the Associated Press, State Rep. Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton) believes the permitting process is a burdensome requirement for law-abiding citizens. Moreover, she says she “sees too many law-abiding citizens getting in trouble by not having their license.” In other words, law-abiding citizens are getting in trouble for exercising their God-given Second Amendment rights without first asking the state’s permission.
Hoitenga pointed out that open carry without a permit is already legal in Michigan, but citizens who legally open carry without a permit become criminals if they put on a jacket or sweatshirt that covers the gun.
Michigan Open Carry’s Tom Lambert echoed Hoitenga’s point and explained that the legislation heading to the full House simply makes open carry and concealed carry laws congruent. Pursuit of such congruence was a driving force for the abolition of concealed carry permit requirement in New Hampshire and North Dakota earlier this year.
As with other states that have abolished a concealed carry permitting requirement, Michigan would retain the permitting process for those wishing to acquire license for reciprocity with other states.
AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and host of “Bullets with AWR Hawkins,” a Breitbart News podcast. He is also the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.
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