Geneseee County has more concealed handgun permits per capita than state's other high-population counties

A Ruger LCP 380cal and it's holster is seen at Williams Gun Sight in Davison on Nov. 7, 2014. Laura McDermott | MLive.com

(Laura McDermott | MLive.com)

LANSING, MI -- Gun owners would be prohibited from openly carrying weapons in Michigan schools, day care centers and some other areas under legislation set to be formally introduced next week in Lansing.

But the pending Senate bill would allow permit holders to carry concealed pistols in those areas instead, provided they first request an exemption from the state.

Sponsoring Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville, likened the proposal to a "peace pipe" designed ease tensions between gun rights groups and school officials, some of whom have complained about open carry in their buildings.

"I basically want to trade open carry for concealed carry in those zones," Green said. "I shopped it by the gun groups some time ago, and everybody seemed to be OK with it, but now some of them are having a little trepidation. I'm not sure where it's headed."

Michigan law currently prohibits concealed pistol license holders from carrying concealed guns in schools and other so-called "pistol-free zones." But the law, in what some have called a glaring "loophole," does not prevent them from openly carrying in those same areas.

A series of open carry run-ins have caused controversy in recent years, but the issue exploded in March when a man brought a pistol to his sister's High School choir concert in Ann Arbor. Police interviewed him, confirmed his CPL status and determined he was within his rights.

The Ann Arbor school board responded by banning all guns on school property, prompting a lawsuit from a gun group and parent. State law is designed to preempt a local unit of government from enacting gun regulations.

Green's bill would prohibit open carry in schools, day care centers, sports arenas, bars, churches, entertainment venues, hospitals, casinos and college dorms or classrooms.

CPL holders could request an exemption during the original application or renewal process, which would be granted in the form of an endorsement on the actual license. Applying at any other time would cost up to $20 to cover processing costs.

State Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing, would prefer to keep most concealed guns out of schools too. He's introduced legislation that would prohibit open carry in the areas where concealed pistols are currently prohibited and add public libraries to that list.

"Not a week goes by that someone doesn't email me or tell me we need to take guns out of schools or take openly carried guns out of schools," Schor said Thursday.

"I have to let them know I'm very supportive of my bill, but I'm not a committee chair or in the majority, and I can't get anyone on the other side of the aisle to take it up."

GUN GROUPS STUDY UP

Green is one of the most gun-friendly lawmakers in Michigan, having recently led a successful push to make Michigan a true "shall issue" CPL state by eliminating county gun boards, shifting responsibility for license applications and background checks to county clerks and state police.

But gun groups and owners have expressed some concerns with a draft copy of his new bill that was distributed online this week, although they expect to see some changes during the legislative process.

Not surprisingly, Michigan Open Carry Inc, which champions open carry rights allowed under current law, will "heavily oppose" the bill, according to President Phillip Hofmeister.

"School districts say guns cause disturbances and frighten children. No, the gun doesn't create the disturbance and frighten children, the school administrators do by making a big issue out of it," he said.

The bill, as written, could also penalize CPL holders who inadvertently expose their concealed gun in a pistol-free zone, according to Hofmeister. The draft proposal would prohibit the intentional display or open carry of a gun but does not clearly define either term.

"We're taking otherwise law-abiding, peaceful people and turning them into felons because their shirt rode up a couple inches one time," he said.

Steve Dulan, a spokesperson for the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners, said the group generally supports allowing concealed carry in schools but has not yet taken an official position on Green's pending bill.

Allowing CPL holders to legally carry their guns in more places is the best way to deter predators, Dulan said, arguing that by allowing concealed carry in schools, the state could enhance student safety.

"I think even the most ardent open carry advocates have to admit there would be more people carrying in these 'mass murder empowerment zones' if concealed pistols were allowed," Dulan said.

More than 475,000 Michigan residents currently have concealed carry permits, according to the latest statistics from the Michigan State Police.

LONG SHOT LEGISLATION?

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed a similar bill in 2012, and Green acknowledged Thursday that the administration has already hinted at concerns with the new proposal.

Th 2012 measure would have prohibited open carry in pistol-free zones while allowing private property owners, along with some colleges and universities, the option to prohibit concealed weapons as well.

But Snyder, in his veto letter to lawmakers, expressed concern that public schools, public day care centers and public hospitals would not have had that same ability.

"I believe it is important that these public institutions have clear legal authority to ban weapons on their premises," he wrote. "Each is entrusted with the care of a vulnerable population and should have the authority to determine whether its mission would be enhanced by the addition of concealed weapons."

The new bill would not stop private property owners from prohibiting concealed weapons, but it does not extend that option to public institutions.

While Snyder doesn't comment on pending legislation, a spokesman said in April that the governor generally opposes open carry in schools and supports allowing concealed weapons, "but only if the district has had the opportunity to set its own policies and would be allowed to opt out of such laws."

Schor, whose bill to prohibit open carry in areas where concealed guns are currently not allowed has not advanced, said he would also be more amendable to a concealed carry measure that allows public schools to make that choice on their own.

But Green's pending bill sounds like it may at least be an improvement over current law, according Schor, who noted that he has not yet seen the final language and is curious to see how the Snyder administration responds.

"It prevents the fear factor, prevents someone openly carrying a gun from walking into a school and causing fear and trouble and the cops being called and all of the issues that come along with that," he said. "But I'd prefer people not be carrying guns in schools at all."

Schor disputed the common argument from gun rights groups that allowing more weapons in schools would make them safer. It could cause chaos if police officers are called in to respond to an active shooter and find multiple people wielding guns, he suggested.

Green, for his part, said he is listening to feedback on the pending bill and is focused on crafting a final product that is amenable to gun rights advocates, who don't necessarily see any need to change existing law and are unlikely to support anything that is too restrictive.

"We'll see where the discussion goes," he said. "There could be changes. I'm open to talking. This is not something I feel we need to have, but I'm more than willing to look at it to ease the minds of some people."

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.