FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
February 25, 2014
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Progress Michigan Urges Gov. Snyder to Veto NRA-Backed Legislation
Legislature should focus on other issues to move Michigan forward
LANSING — Progress Michigan is urging Gov. Rick Snyder to veto gun lobby-backed legislation that passed out of the House today that would abolish county gun boards. The package of bills has moved swiftly through the legislature despite the fact that the process for obtaining a concealed pistol license is already streamlined.
“This bill isn’t about efficiency or cutting down on red tape, this bill is strictly a solution in search of a problem that doesn’t exist,”said Hugh Madden, communications director at Progress Michigan. “Michiganders need to be aware that our current laws have already streamlined the process for obtaining these licenses. We’re urging Gov. Snyder to, once again, veto this legislation as soon as it hits his desk.”
The legislature should have other priorities over appealing to the radical gun lobby and their rubber stamp legislators in Lansing. Michigan State Police data shows that the process for obtaining a concealed pistol license has been sufficiently streamlined.
From 2003 through 2013, the number of CPLs issued in Michigan rose from over 30,000 to more than 110,000 and the amount of time it takes for an FBI clearance dropped from 11 days to about 2 hours.
“This bill isn’t about moving Michigan forward, it’s about towing the line for gun lobbyists and appealing to far-right legislators,”Madden continued. “Rather than pushing out gun proliferation legislation, we should be passing laws that help reduce gun violence in our state.”
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