The governor also ordered a multi-departmental assessment of the state's services and needs regarding at-risk children.
While the governor rejected Senate Bill 59, he did sign two other bills that streamline the process for handgun purchases and eliminate restrictions on interstate rifle and shotgun transactions to states contiguous to Michigan. Snyder's veto primarily is based on the bill's failure to let designated public entities such as schools, day care centers and hospitals opt out of the new concealed carry provisions. Currently, Michigan law does not prevent a concealed pistol license holder from openly carrying a pistol in these zones.
Snyder had urged that SB 59 be modified to more significantly restrict pistols in those zones by prohibiting open-carry in such places, in exchange for allowing only concealed pistols to be carried if license holders receive additional training - subject to the right of the property owners to prohibit concealed carrying if they desire. Under the bill as passed, only private venues can opt out, as can college universities with constitutional autonomy.
"While we must vigilantly protect the rights of law-abiding firearm owners, we also must ensure the right of designated public entities to exercise their best discretion in matters of safety and security," he said. "These public venues need clear legal authority to ban firearms on their premises if they see fit to do so."
Friday's horrific school shootings in Connecticut also highlighted the need for a thorough review of SB 59, though Snyder had committed to give the bill additional scrutiny even before the tragedy in an effort to ensure that public safety remains a priority.
"This type of violence often leaves society with more questions than answers," Snyder said. "The reasons for such appalling acts usually are numerous and complex. With that in mind, we must consider legislation like SB 59 in a holistic manner. While the bill's goal is to help prevent needless violence, Michigan will be better served if we view it through a variety of lenses. A thoughtful review that examines issues such as school emergency policies, disenfranchised youth and mental health services may lead to more answers and better safeguards." The governor's call for a review of Michigan's services and needs includes:
- Directing the Michigan Department of Community Health to partner with the departments of Human Services and Education, as well as the State Court Administrative Office and law
enforcement, to evaluate systems of care for at-risk children. The evaluation will identify gaps
between the various systems and create a comprehensive plan to bolster early intervention
efforts to address behavioral, emotional and mental health issues.
- Tasking the Department of Community Health to work with law enforcement and the courts to
facilitate regional training to better identify tools that can be used for identifying high-risk
youth. DCH also will collaborate with partners to increase mental health awareness efforts,
which will include promoting resources available to people in need of assistance.
- Directing the departments of Community Health and Human Services to explore ways to
incorporate community mental health workers into the Pathways to Potential model that is
under way in schools.
- Requesting that the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Education review
best practices and policies of safe school plans across Michigan, and help develop a means of
greater access to strategies for students to find ways of resolving conflicts peacefully.
- Asking local school districts to offer practical ways to help prevent the introduction of weapons
on school property, in order to maintain the sanctity of a safe educational environment for
students and educators.
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