Rob
11-07-2003, 10:06 AM
http://www.wnem.com/Global/story.asp?s=1513734
Concealed Weapons: A TV5 Special Report
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(TV5) Undated--Not long ago, if you wanted a license to carry a concealed weapon in Michigan, you had to convince a local gun board you deserved one. They had absolute power and discretion, and weren't afraid to use it, often denying as many requests as they granted.
But all that changed two years ago. Tonight, TV-5 investigates the sweeping changes in the concealed weapon law. Is Michigan safer, are you safer, now that over 100-thousand of your fellow citizens can legally carry a concealed gun?
and, why we may never find out who's got the guns:
Since the dramatically different law went into effect, the number of people licensed to carry concealed weapons in Michigan has almost doubled. On July 1, 2001, 58-thousand Michiganians had a concealed weapon permit. Today, over 103-thousand do.
Every day, at gun ranges across the state, more people take the training course required to get one. Bay City's Brent Pinter is among them. He's a store security guard who decided to get licensed after a run-in with a shoplifter at his store.
"So, I've had a lot of gang members, when I bust them, come in and say, oh, I'm gonna bust a cap in your ass, and I'm gonna find out where you live," said Pinter.
Just how did the law change? The bottom line is if you want a concealed weapon permit, you get one. Provided, you have no felony convictions. Have not been dishonorably discharged, been declared mentally ill, are not the subject of a personal protection order, and passed an 8-hour safety course. You also have to be fingerprinted and pass two background checks. The whole thing takes 6-8 weeks and runs about 105 dollars.
The law went into effect, accompanied by dire predictions, especially from those in law enforcement, who said there would be a bloodbath in the streets, wild west shoot-outs, with innocents caught in the crossfire. So far, that hasn't happened.
Right now, in county offices across mid-Michigan, file cabinets are filling up with applications and permits. But who is applying remains secret. A recent search of similar public files in New York revealed that notables like Howard Stern and Robert Deniro had guns. But when we asked to see local gun permits, we were told no.
So, why can't we know who's got guns, and who might be carrying them every day? Privacy and safety. Officials are concerned that being able to find out "who's got what" could make people who've obeyed the laws, targets for those who don't.
Midland, Bay, Saginaw and Genesee Counties have all seen a dramatic jump in permit applications. In Saginaw, before the law changed, maybe 350 people applied for one. Since the law changed, the county has issued over 2-thousand. State police say it's too soon to say for certain, but so far, there's no indication the law has impacted crime one way or the other.
Concealed Weapons: A TV5 Special Report
Email to a Friend
Printer Friendly Version
(TV5) Undated--Not long ago, if you wanted a license to carry a concealed weapon in Michigan, you had to convince a local gun board you deserved one. They had absolute power and discretion, and weren't afraid to use it, often denying as many requests as they granted.
But all that changed two years ago. Tonight, TV-5 investigates the sweeping changes in the concealed weapon law. Is Michigan safer, are you safer, now that over 100-thousand of your fellow citizens can legally carry a concealed gun?
and, why we may never find out who's got the guns:
Since the dramatically different law went into effect, the number of people licensed to carry concealed weapons in Michigan has almost doubled. On July 1, 2001, 58-thousand Michiganians had a concealed weapon permit. Today, over 103-thousand do.
Every day, at gun ranges across the state, more people take the training course required to get one. Bay City's Brent Pinter is among them. He's a store security guard who decided to get licensed after a run-in with a shoplifter at his store.
"So, I've had a lot of gang members, when I bust them, come in and say, oh, I'm gonna bust a cap in your ass, and I'm gonna find out where you live," said Pinter.
Just how did the law change? The bottom line is if you want a concealed weapon permit, you get one. Provided, you have no felony convictions. Have not been dishonorably discharged, been declared mentally ill, are not the subject of a personal protection order, and passed an 8-hour safety course. You also have to be fingerprinted and pass two background checks. The whole thing takes 6-8 weeks and runs about 105 dollars.
The law went into effect, accompanied by dire predictions, especially from those in law enforcement, who said there would be a bloodbath in the streets, wild west shoot-outs, with innocents caught in the crossfire. So far, that hasn't happened.
Right now, in county offices across mid-Michigan, file cabinets are filling up with applications and permits. But who is applying remains secret. A recent search of similar public files in New York revealed that notables like Howard Stern and Robert Deniro had guns. But when we asked to see local gun permits, we were told no.
So, why can't we know who's got guns, and who might be carrying them every day? Privacy and safety. Officials are concerned that being able to find out "who's got what" could make people who've obeyed the laws, targets for those who don't.
Midland, Bay, Saginaw and Genesee Counties have all seen a dramatic jump in permit applications. In Saginaw, before the law changed, maybe 350 people applied for one. Since the law changed, the county has issued over 2-thousand. State police say it's too soon to say for certain, but so far, there's no indication the law has impacted crime one way or the other.