Michigan law takes effect eliminating gun license screening by local boards

[SecularMotion]

A Michigan law that goes into effect Tuesday has eliminated an individualized gun license screening that critics say has prevented many potentially dangerous individuals from obtaining a concealed carry license.

The law to eliminate local gun boards marks a long-sought legislative victory for gun rights advocates, who argued the boards indiscriminately rejected applicants, and comes as the Michigan legislature is set to continue debating a bill that would expand access to guns across the state.

But critics of the gun board elimination say local law enforcement officials have lost a safety net to prevent concealed pistol license (CPL) applicants with mental health issues or criminal backgrounds from obtaining a license.

If an individual wasn’t explicitly disqualified under state law, the boards could still deny a license following a face-to-face interview with an applicant, which could reveal issues that otherwise wouldn’t emerge in a criminal background check. Nearly 350 applicants were denied a license by a gun board in the fiscal year 2013-2014.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/01/michigan-gun-control-boards-law-eliminated

[tazkcmo]

1. And now it's even easier to get a gun. n/t

[gejohnston]

2. that is for carry permits, not to own or purchase

it has nothing to do with the purchase permit system Michigan has had since 1927.

[tazkcmo]

3. Thank you.

I appreciate the correction.

[Kang Colby]

4. Excellent news....thanks SecMo.

Another victory, 2015 has been good for gun rights across the nation.

[Eleanors38]

5. "The law was passed to disarm the negro laborers." FL S. Court, 1941 ruling.

Yep. That Board had a working model.

[bluestateguy]

6. What if a local liscencing board was racist, homophobic or anti-Muslim?

And that board conveniently denied gun licenses to blacks, gays and Muslims?

Gun control can be reasonable and do good things as a public policy, but it can also be used to further overtly bigoted objectives.

Be careful .

[krispos42]

7. Face to face before an arbitrary ruling...

[benEzra]

8. Yup, that was exactly the intent behind NC's discretionary purchase permit system.

Thankfully that was just recently reformed, and made shall-issue based on statuatory criteria rather than the sheriff's opinions.