Posted on 04/04/2002 9:49:11 AM PST by Dan from Michigan
Pro-gun group ready for fight
Director urges easing of concealed weapon restrictions; prosecutor not warmly received.
Thursday, April 4, 2002
By PATTY MAHER
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
The executive director of the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners told a group of about 75 gun enthusiasts gathered Wednesday night at Webster Township Hall that he'll lead them in a fight to make Michigan the envy of gun lovers in Florida, Nevada and Texas.
Ross Dykman told the crowd they are powerful "ambassadors of the gun movement" and urged them to vigorously support pro-gun candidates with endorsements, money and letters to local newspapers. He blasted Michigan attorney general and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Granholm's stance against concealed weapons, while praising Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, a Republican candidate for governor, for his gun rights advocacy.
"Gun owners are a phenomenal majority in this state, and there is no anti-gun organization in this state that's equivalent to this group," Dykman said.
Dykman is lead attorney in a lawsuit against the city of Ferndale, which he called "the Ann Arbor of Oakland County" for its residents' liberal social perspectives. The suit alleges Ferndale's city council broke federal and state laws in creating a statute to prohibit people from carrying concealed weapons in publicly owned spaces such as courtrooms and city hall.
Dykman said Michigan is making great strides in promoting the rights of gun owners. He noted that following the Columbine school massacre, Michigan was the first state to pass legislation relaxing standards for carrying concealed weapons.
As a result, gun owners today don't have to prove a need for carrying a concealed weapon, as they did under the previous law. Local gun boards still can withhold concealed weapons permits to criminals and people with mental health problems.
Most in attendance Wednesday night agreed the restrictions still are too strict and that Washtenaw County is enforcing them too rigidly.
County Prosecutor Brian Mackie, who stepped down from the gun board in protest after the new law went into effect last year, was the lone voice in favor of gun control at the meeting. And he had a hard time finishing sentences as he was repeatedly interrupted.
"You're twisting your words around," complained Fred Veigel, chairman of the Washtenaw County Board of Road Commissioners. "You're playing games. You think you're smarter than everybody."
One man, who said he respected Mackie for addressing a group that obviously disagreed with him, asked the prosecuting attorney why he came to the meeting and what he thinks the law should be for carrying a concealed weapon.
"Why? Because I was invited," Mackie said, then explained that he thinks Michigan should revert to its former law, which required people to prove a need to carry a concealed weapon. He said he also might favor doing away with local gun boards who approve concealed weapons permits, shifting the responsibility for issuing such permits to the Secretary of State or another administrative agency.
"I don't think we're any safer when we get into a traffic altercation if we have armed people and not unarmed people," Mackie said.
State Rep. Gene DeRossett, R-Saline, told the group he'll work to protect their right to carry concealed weapons. He claimed Michigan's former law actually was instituted by the Ku Klux Klan and had a long history of being elitist, allowing people with connections to carry concealed weapons and keeping those without connections from sharing the privilege.
I noticed he did not include Pennsylvania. We have a shall issue law - $20, 14 days and a clean background check is all it takes to get a ccw.
And while we are getting better, we have a long ways to go.
In Colorado, I had to pay $100 nonrefundable with my application. Had I not got tghe permit that money was gone. My permit is good for 2 years, and renewal every two years after that is $50. Also, only by the good graces of my county sheriff, who happens to act as shall-issue even though state law is may issue, did I get the permit. Finally, that sheriff, although he did provide me a permit, required that I take the NRA's Personal Protection Course before doing so.
There's not much I like about PA over CO (I loved it in CO), but when it comes to CCW, I'm glad I'm back.
Now if I could just find someone to go shooting with and a good range...
This could have been easily proved refuted by the writer, but it seems the writer had a reason (read: bias) not to. I love the "gun lover" crack; somehow I doubt that was a direct quote.
What will it cost to apply?
A non-refundable fee of $59.00 must be included with your application. This fee consists of $35.00 for application and permit processing and $24.00 charged by the F.B.I. to process your fingerprint cards. Please make money orders payable to the "Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification".
Who is eligible?
* Minimum requirements for application for a concealed firearms permit in Utah are:
Applicant must be at least 21 years of age,
A citizen or legal resident of the United States,
Proof of good character...whereas the applicant;
has not been convicted of a felony;
has not been convicted of any crime of violence;
has not been convicted of any offense involving the use of alcohol;
has not been convicted of any offenses involving the unlawful use of narcotics or other controlled substances;
has not been convicted of any offenses involving moral turpitude;
has not been convicted of any offense involving domestic violence;
has not been adjudicated by a court of a state or of the United States as mentally incompetent, unless the adjudication has been withdrawn or reversed;
*A criminal background check is conducted for all applicants.
What must accompany the application?
A Photocopy of your Driver License
Two letters of character reference from individuals with personal knowledge of your character. All references must state in the reference letter that they have knowledge of your intent to obtain a concealed firearm permit. Note: Family members can not be used as a character reference.
Photographs — Two recent color photographs of passport quality, measuring 2" x 2".
Fingerprint Cards — A set of two fingerprint cards must be filled out completely. Writing and prints must be legible. Fingerprint should be taken by a trained fingerprint technician. Fingerprint cards that are not legible will be returned to the applicant and will cause a delay in processing the application.
Five year employment history
Five year residential history
Weapon Familiarity Certification
That's right - but go further. Respond to any antigun nut with this question: When was the last time anyone on your street was shot? Because - if they are like the overwhelming majority of antigun nuts - they are the people least likely to live on any street where anyone ever has been shot: a middle-class European-American neighborhood!
Think about it. I've lived in this same house on this decidedly middle-class street 26 years - and nobody on it's been shot during that time. Nor has anyone on any street I've lived on elsewhere - and I'll be 42 in May.
Racialize the gun debate. Bring home to the "undecided" = most all of whom are nonminorities - the federal statistics on homicide in America.
Scandals of antigun politicians and activists - from coast to coast
Except for that little gun registration thing. Dunno if it's just Philly or the entire state.
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