Michigan was one of just seven states in the country to refuse to designate the firearms industry as essential during the COVID-19 related Stay Home orders of 2020. Two bills, House Bill 5187 and House Bill 5188, were introduced in Michigan House of Representatives just before the legislature started its summer break. These bills would ensure this situation is not repeated.
We anticipate these bills will receive a committee hearing the morning of Thursday, October 28 at Lansing. It's crucial that MCRGO members voice support for this legislation.
House Bills 5187 & 5188 would amend the Emergency Management Act and Public Health Code to disallow future emergency orders that would “prohibit, suspend, or limit” the firearms industry and Second Amendment rights of Michigan residents. More specifically, they would protect the “otherwise lawful possession, carrying, display, sale, transportation, transfer, defensive use, or other lawful use” of firearms and ammunition, along with their components and accessories during a declared emergency. They would also prohibit the registration or seizure of those items.
MCRGO is working with the National Shooting Sports Foundation to gather testimony ahead of this committee meeting. If you are able to attend the committee hearing on Thursday, October 28, 2021 in person to submit either oral or written testimony, please email Brady at [email protected]. He will send you with additional details once the hearing is confirmed.
If you are unable to attend the committee meeting in person, you may email your testimony to the Chair of the House Oversight Committee, Representative Steve Johnson, at: [email protected]. Please also email your own state representative. You can find your state representative HERE.
Form letters have little impact on legislators so MCRGO avoids them. The most powerful testimony is how the Stay Home orders of 2020 personally impacted your self defense rights written in your own words. Some additional key points you may wish to include are:
- The Second Amendment does not have a pandemic/natural disaster clause.
- The ability for one to protect themselves and their family is as important during an emergency as ever.
- Laws like the ones that would be created by HB 5187 and 5188 are already in place in 24 states.
- Michigan was one of just 7 states in the country to close firearm industry businesses by refusing to designate them as essential.
