The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education does not want guns in schools, and are using every means possible to prevent people from taking them onto campus.

The board on Wednesday, March 11, passed a resolution asking state lawmakers consider legislation to make schools truly gun-free zones.

About 200 people attended the meeting, including about 25 people open carrying handguns, at Huron High School.

Last week, a man carried a pistol into Pioneer High School during a choir concert, igniting a controversy that drew gun rights advocates from around the state to speak before the board.

Michigan residents who have concealed pistol licenses can legally openly carry guns into schools.

"We don't want guns in schools," said Andy Thomas, Ann Arbor school board secretary, reiterating a message from Board President Deb Mexicotte earlier in the meeting.

The board discussed the resolution toward the end of a more than four-hour meeting, long after approximately 40 public speakers both against and for guns in school spoke on the issue and left earlier in the evening.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mexicotte read a statement saying the district will use whatever means available to keep students safe from guns in schools within the current state laws.

Thomas said he hopes the state law that allows CPL holders to open carry guns in schools is "unjust" and needs to be changed.

The resolution will go to lawmakers around the state and Gov. Rick Snyder.

Board Vice President Christine Stead said she thinks the resolution will add a strong voice at the state level on the topic.

"They can change the law in the ways we have described," Mexicotte said of the state Legislature. "That will help us solve this problem for our community."

The board will continue to look at all avenues, political, procedural and social, to keep the schools safe, she said.

Read the full resolution:

WHEREAS:

1. Over 11 thousand Americans die each year as the result of gun violence, and

2. Homicide by firearm is the second leading causes of death among American adolescents, and

3. There is a broad consensus that schools should afford children a safe haven from guns and other weapons and

4. In recognition of this consensus, the federal government, with strong bipartisan support, enacted the Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990, which prohibits any unauthorized individual from possessing a firearm within a school zone, and

5. The afore-mentioned Gun Free School Zones Act delegates to the states responsibility for licensing and regulating who may be authorized to carry a firearm in a "gun free school zone", and

6. The State of Michigan has enacted legislation which allows individuals who have been awarded a concealed pistol license (CPL) to openly carry firearms in areas otherwise designated as "gun free school zones" (a provision commonly known as the "CPL open carry loophole"), and

8. In early 2013, State Representative Andy Schor, with the support of Representatives Marcia

Hovey-Wright and Jim Townsend, introduced Bill 4104, which would have closed the CPL open carry loophole, thus restoring the original intent of gun-free school zones, and

9. This bill was assigned to the Committee on Local Government, which has not held public hearings on HB 4104 or reported out on this bill, but has blocked any consideration of HB-4104 by the Legislature as a whole, effectively killing the bill, and

10. There is widespread concern in the Ann Arbor community (and other communities as well) that guns brought to school under the CPL open carry loophole pose a significant risk to public safety, and especially to the safety of children, teachers and parents, and

11. The practice of open carry at school is intimidating, is a source of fear among children, parents and teachers, is contrary to strongly-held community values, is unreasonably provocative and serves no useful purpose whatsoever, and

12. The practice of open carry in school buildings is strongly opposed by police and other law enforcement groups, as well as by teachers, parents and students

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED

1. That the Ann Arbor Board of Education publicly expresses its opposition to any form of open carry by individuals other than law enforcement officers within designated gun-free school zones;

2. That the Board urges the Michigan State Legislature to adopt legislation to eliminate the CPL open carry loophole;

3. That the Board expresses its gratitude to Representatives Schor, Hovey-Wright and Townsend for their initiative and leadership in proposing this legislation;

4. That the Board asks Representatives Gretchen Driskel, Jeff Irwin, David Rutledge and Adam Zemke and Senator Rebekah Warren to listen to their constituents on this issue and take a strong leadership position in favor of eliminating the CPL open carry loophole;

5. That the Board requests Governor Rick Snyder to make the safety of Michigan school children a priority for his administration by supporting elimination of the CPL open carry loophole;

6. That the Board asks Michigan House of Representatives Speaker Kevin Cotter to prioritize the safety of our children, to afford fair public hearings on the issue, and to permit an up-or-down vote by the House on this issue; AND

7. That copies of this resolution be sent to the following individuals:

Governor Rick Snyder

Senate Majority Leader

Speaker of the House

Senate Democratic leader

Minority Leader of the House

Chair, House Education Committee

Chair, Senate Education Committee

Chair, House Appropriations Committee

Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee

Senator Rebekah Warren, 18th District

Representative Jeff Irwin, 53rd District

Representative David Rutledge, 54th District

Representative Adam Zemke

Representative Gretchen Driskell

John Austin, President, State Board of Education and all members of the State Board of Education

Don Wortuba, Executive Director, Michigan Association of School Boards

Local print, voice, and Internet media.

Lindsay Knake is the K-12 education reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Follow her on twitter or contact her at 989-372-2498 or lknake@mlive.com. Find all Washtenaw County K-12 education stories on MLive.com.