One of the more heartening developments in Michigan’s political culture is the acceptance that gun rights pose no threat to public safety – and in fact can enhance it.
I was surprised to see this article over on Mlive about students supporting concealed carry on Michigan’s college campuses. Not only does it present the supporters as something other than blood-thirsty nut jobs, the reporter couldn’t seem to find anyone in authority willing to recite the usual anti-gun talking points.
In fact, it is hard to argue that Michigan’s concealed carry reform has been anything but a success. Michigan’s concealed pistol licensees have proven to be safe, law-abiding and responsible. It is very difficult for gun control opponents to insist that eliminating the last enclaves of gun control in the state will touch off widespread massacres when permit holders have shown themselves to be so safe.
It is hard to remember, but when PA 381 took effect in 2001, then-Attorney General Jennifer Granholm vowed to lead a petition drive to repeal it. When polling went south on her effort – in part because the predicted massacres didn’t happen – she quietly dropped the project. Once ensconced in the governor’s office, she proved surprisingly pliable to the gun rights movement, even going so far as signing the infamous mourning dove hunting bill.
The Old Left is throwing a fearful fit right now as it becomes aware that its power is waning. Whether they will manage to further entrench the unions is an open question, but we can be grateful that even the most doctrinaire liberal Democrats have given up on
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