Michigan governor vetoes concealed weapons bill
Gov. Rick Snyder, R-Mich., on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have allowed gun owners to carry concealed weapons in schools, churches, day care centers, casinos and other public places.
In a letter to the Michigan legislature, Snyder said he was vetoing the bill because it did not give the option to ban guns if they want to do so, the Detroit Free Press reports.
"I believe that it is important that these public institutions have clear legal authority to ban weapons from their premises," he said. "Each is entrusted with the care of a vulnerable population and should have the authority to determine whether its mission would be enhanced by the addition of concealed weapons."
The sponsor of the legislation, Republican state Sen. Mike Green, told the Detroit News that he had refused Snyder's request to allow public schools and municipalities to opt out because he worried adding the language could ultimately threaten a separate law that bars local gun laws from overriding state gun laws.
The decision comes four days after the horrific shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut that left 26 people dead, 20 of them children. The law was passed by the legislature the day before the shooting. Snyder on Monday asked his administration to review school security policies, CBS Detroit reports.
Had the legislation been signed, according to the Detroit News, people who undergo extra training and have licenses to have concealed weapons could carry them in otherwise gun-free zones. "The legislation contains a loophole that allows private property owners to ban concealed weapons, but Snyder had raised concerns about a lack of a similar opt-out provision for schools and other publicly owned property," reported the News.
Snyder's decision comes one week after he signed controversial "right-to-work" legislation that fiercely divided his state.
Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, said Monday that he believes teachers and administrators should have the right to carry concealed handguns in schools. And Gov. Bob McDonnell, R-Va., called for a "discussion" of arming school principals.