Michigan law takes effect eliminating gun license screening by local boards [View all]
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
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