By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
LANSING — The Thumb’s pistol packing promoting lawmaker senator, Mike Green (R – Mayville), just introduced a bill that would help make the state’s concealed pistol license (CPL) more efficient and cost-effective, and also sponsored a Second Amendment meeting.
“Michigan residents currently pay one of the highest CPL fees in the nation, yet they must deal with inconsistent requirements from county to county and experience some of the longest delays in receiving a license,” said Green. “We are the only state in the nation that still uses gun boards to issue CPL’s. It is obsolete and needs to change. In an era of modern technology and record-keeping, we can do better and folks deserve better for their hard-earned dollars.”
Senate Bill 789 will make the CPL process more efficient by eliminating the county concealed weapons licensing boards created in 1927. Their authority would be delegated to county clerks who already accept applications and issue approved licenses.
Also, under the proposed law, license decisions would have to be made within a strict 45-day time limit from the date fingerprints are taken. The current deadline is widely viewed as unenforceable.
Of the $105 CPL license fee, the Michigan State Police receive the largest portion at $64, county clerks $26 and sheriff departments $15. Although receiving the smallest portion of the fee, sheriffs are required to conduct the time-intensive background and court records checks.
Many sheriffs claim they lose money in the process due to the expense of assigning deputies to CPLs, noted Green.
To address this concern, Green proposes the MSP take over the background checks with no additional funding and allow sheriffs to keep $15 for fingerprinting on initial applications. Because fingerprints are now stored electronically and are not required for most renewal applicants, the renewal fee would be reduced to $90.
“My bill will free up local law enforcement resources from bureaucratic tasks to focus on public safety in our local communities. More importantly, it will create a true ‘shall issue’ CPL system for law-abiding citizens while keeping licenses out of the hands of bad guys,” Green said noting the bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.
Senate Bill 789 is supported by the National Rifle Association and the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners.
In 2001, when Green was the 84th state representative, he was the sponsor sponsor of the “shall issue” law, which created for the first time the ability to carry a concealed weapon in Michigan.
When it comes to supporting gun rights, Green doesn’t just talk the talk, he does the walk also.
Saturday he sponsored a meeting on gun owner and sportsmen’s rights at the Lapeer County Sportsman’s Club.
“The Second Amendment is critical to preserving all the freedoms we enjoy as a people. As we witness the rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen under constant attack, it is more important than ever before that they stand united and get involved,” said Green about why he hosted the event.
Other guests speakers included: Sen. Phil Pavlov, Senate Majority Floor Leader Arlan Meekhof, Rep. Andrea Lafontaine, Lapeer County Sheriff Ron Kalanquin and Tuscola County Sheriff Lee Teschendorf, all of whom spoke of their strong support for the Second Amendment and the right to hunt, fish and trap.
Green is also chairmen of the Senate Second Amendment Caucus and co-chair of the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus.
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.