"Promoting safe use and ownership of firearms through
education, litigation, and legislation"
MCRGO MONDAY E'NEWS
Michigan Senate Rejects Heartwell
This past Thursday, the Michigan Senate rejected the appointment of former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell to chair the Michigan Natural Resources Commission. Heartwell had been appointed to the commission in early February by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Heartwell's appointment was opposed by MCRGO, Michigan Open Carry, and the National Rifle Association due to Heartwell's defiance of Michigan's firearms preemption law while mayor in a failed attempt to ban firearms at city events. As mayor, Heartwell also founded the Michigan Coalition for Gun Control.
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission is the body charged with creating hunting policy in the state. Heartwell indicated to the Senate Advice and Consent Committee that he hasn't hunted in 35 years saying he made a "personal decision" decades ago that "killing things was not for me." E-mail and phone call volume to Senate offices was heavy in opposition to Heartwell and was a primary factor in his rejection. In the near party line vote to reject Heartwell, Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., (D-East Lansing) accused the Republican majority of rejecting Heartwell due to "politics" while he ignored Heartwell's personal opposition to hunting and past refusal to comply with state firearms laws protecting the natural right to self-defense.
House Passes 2A Affirmation Resolution
On Wednesday while Moms Demand Action's annual rally was taking place on the Capitol steps, the Michigan House of Representatives passed House Resolution 227 on a vote of 75-32. The resolution was hotly debated despite being a simple reaffirmation of the Second Amendment and Article. 1, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution at a time when self defense rights are under widespread attack across the country.
When the Second Amendment Sanctuary movement started in Michigan several months ago, a main goal put forward was to help identify who our friends and foes are in an election year. On both the state and local levels, that's what's happening. It's resulted in greater dialogue between gun owners and their elected officials particularly on the local level. It's achieved increased cooperation among MCRGO, Michigan Open Carry, and Michigan Gun Owners in jointly authoring a model Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution for country commissioners and legislators to work from. MCRGO supports HR 227 and applauds the House for its quick action.
The voting board is shown below. A link to the resolution can be found HERE.
