LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – House and Senate lawmakers serving in Lansing who have a conceal carry permit will not fall under the measure that bans weapons from the Capitol building.
On Wednesday, the Michigan State Capitol Commission voted unanimously to ban weapons from the state Capitol but added the exception for serving lawmakers.
The weapons ban for Capitol visitors and staffers replaces a policy adopted in 2021 that prohibited the open carry of firearms but still allowed for concealed weapons by anyone visiting the statehouse. The commission installed pass through weapons detection devices last week at the main entrances to the state Capitol in preparation for the ban.
State Senator Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton) has been an outspoken critic of the potential weapons ban and had announced she would sue if the policy was implemented. She shared in a Facebook post that, “I will continue fighting for the same constitutional rights for those I serve. Concealed carry permit holders are among the most law abiding members of society. They’ve had training, they’ve had background checks, everything the anti-gun crowd asks for. Thankfully, there has never been an incident of gun violence at our state Capitol, but that sadly cannot be said for other gun-free zones,” Hoitenga said.
