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http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2010/05/15/news/doc4beebfc6e3cd1879688405.txt
SNIP
By Rene Cizio
TAYLOR — Several people might bring guns to Tuesday’s City Council meeting in hopes of getting some attention.
A group of residents says some city ordinances are in violation of the Michigan Constitution regarding the open carrying of handguns and the regulation of gun dealers.
They want the ordinances changed.
To drive home their point, they plan to openly carry their guns to the next council meeting.
“We just want them to be in compliance with the state constitution,” resident Jeff French said.
French, a member of Michigan Open Carry, is leading the charge to have the ordinances changed.
. . .
He said the city prosecuting attorney and corporation counsel are looking into what might need to be changed in the ordinances.
According to state law, the practice of “open carry” is where gun owners can openly carry a properly holstered handgun while they go about their daily business.
What most people are more familiar with is concealed carry, where a gun cannot be seen by the casual observer.
. . .
Forty-four states allow some type of open carry of a handgun; six states ban it.
Taylor’s ordinance says that no person shall use, carry or possess firearms of any description or they will be confiscated and forfeited to the city.
Another section, contrary to the state constitution, refers to gun dealers, who are to be prohibited if the use will be within 1,000 feet of achurch, school, residential or midtown district or a public park.
The state does not recognize a distance requirement for gun dealers. While cities have the right to zone areas as they see fit, the Taylor ordinance appears to apply specifically to guns, which contradicts the state’s law.
“If you know you have bad laws on the books, why don’t you do something about it?” French said.
Open-carry advocates sometimes attend city functions or visit facilities en masse to educate the public on their rights and responsibilities under state law.
French said he also is looking into a future armed event in a park or other city facility.
http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2010/05/15/news/doc4beebfc6e3cd1879688405.txt
SNIP
By Rene Cizio
TAYLOR — Several people might bring guns to Tuesday’s City Council meeting in hopes of getting some attention.
A group of residents says some city ordinances are in violation of the Michigan Constitution regarding the open carrying of handguns and the regulation of gun dealers.
They want the ordinances changed.
To drive home their point, they plan to openly carry their guns to the next council meeting.
“We just want them to be in compliance with the state constitution,” resident Jeff French said.
French, a member of Michigan Open Carry, is leading the charge to have the ordinances changed.
. . .
He said the city prosecuting attorney and corporation counsel are looking into what might need to be changed in the ordinances.
According to state law, the practice of “open carry” is where gun owners can openly carry a properly holstered handgun while they go about their daily business.
What most people are more familiar with is concealed carry, where a gun cannot be seen by the casual observer.
. . .
Forty-four states allow some type of open carry of a handgun; six states ban it.
Taylor’s ordinance says that no person shall use, carry or possess firearms of any description or they will be confiscated and forfeited to the city.
Another section, contrary to the state constitution, refers to gun dealers, who are to be prohibited if the use will be within 1,000 feet of achurch, school, residential or midtown district or a public park.
The state does not recognize a distance requirement for gun dealers. While cities have the right to zone areas as they see fit, the Taylor ordinance appears to apply specifically to guns, which contradicts the state’s law.
“If you know you have bad laws on the books, why don’t you do something about it?” French said.
Open-carry advocates sometimes attend city functions or visit facilities en masse to educate the public on their rights and responsibilities under state law.
French said he also is looking into a future armed event in a park or other city facility.
