Michigan –-(Ammoland.com)- If you haven’t heard by now, this past Wednesday, a bill to ban so called “Assault Weapons” in Michigan was introduced by Rep. Robert Wittenberg (D-Oak Park). The bill number is HB 5996 and I suggest you read through it if you have the time.
We at MOC always try to be honest with you, so I’ll cut to the chase – The bill is DOA.
We are 22 months into a 24 month legislative session. This past Wednesday was the last day the House is to be in session before the elections. HB 5996, as well as others that were introduced with it, are nothing more than a political stunt designed to exploit horrific tragedies for Rep. Wittenberg’s personal political gain. It is beyond shameful.
If you are relieved to know that the bill is already dead, also know that it is only because of the tremendous amount of work MOC and other groups like us have put in. We have won this round right out of the gate, but we cannot become complacent. Please join, donate to, and support MOC, as well as any other group that you feel has earned your support. We all need all of the support we can get.
Donate to MOC
We also recommend contacting your state rep and telling them what you think about HB 5996. Even strong pro-gun legislators that vehemently oppose bills like this need to hear that they are doing the right thing and you support them for it.
If you are still reading, here are some specifics on the bill for you. As usual, the gun banners have no idea what they are doing, or do they?
As telling as how the bill was introduced is, so is the bill itself. We hear a lot about “common-sense gun safety” from the anti-rights crowd, but now we can see what that actually means to them. According to HB 5996, it means banning common things that help people handle guns safely.
Things like:
- Telescoping stocks that allow you to fit the gun to you so that you can handle it safely, or share one firearm with your family. Does this mean they want you to buy more guns?
- Barrel shrouds which are defined as a “covering […] that substantially or completely encircles the barrel, of a firearm and that allows the bearer of the firearm to hold the barrel with the non-shooting hand while firing the firearm without burning that hand.” How dare you not want to burn your hand! Off to jail with you!
- Muzzle brakes defined as something attached to the muzzle to “reduce recoil”. To hell with your shoulder!
- Muzzle compensators defined as something attached to the muzzle that “utilizes escaping gas to control muzzle movement”. Well, I guess they can never again whine about being worried about stray bullets.
At last but not least, the bill bans even possessing something called a “conversion kit”, which is basically defined as any part, or combination of parts, that can turn a firearm into an “assault weapon”. This would make possessing a small plastic foregrip, on its own, a 4 year felony. It couldn’t be any more obvious that this isn’t about safety.
Tom Lambert
President
Legislative Director
Michigan Open Carry, Inc.
TLambert@miopencarry.org
Michigan Open Carry, Inc is a Not-For-Profit organization that depends on our dues paying members to continue our operation. We are an all-volunteer organization. As such, no one is paid a salary and very few of the personal expenses of our officers are reimbursed. Won’t you consider joining us or renewing as a dues paying member today? If you need technical help with the process, please email secretary@miopencarry.org.