In a swift move that has sparked controversy, Michigan Democrats have pushed through gun control legislation ahead of the impending Republican takeover of the state house in January.
The legislation, which includes a ban on bump stocks and unserialized firearms, often dubbed "ghost guns," was passed with the assertion that "Republicans won't do [it] on their own," as stated by Democrat Michigan State Sen. Dayna Polehanki. This move comes on the heels of the 2024 election, where Republicans secured a majority in the state senate by a single seat.
According to the Conservative Daily News, the bump stock provision was passed with the support of three Republicans, while the ghost gun law was approved strictly along party lines. Republican State Rep. Jim DeSana expressed his dissent, stating, I have a strong core belief that the peoples constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms and the right of self-defense is absolute and cannot be restricted, infringed or regulated to the point that a law-abiding citizen would find themselves in violation of laws just for having certain types of guns.
The issue of bump stocks, devices that enable rapid fire of a gun by facilitating faster trigger pulls, became a national concern following their use in the Las Vegas shooting. This tragic event resulted in the death of 58 people and left 850 wounded. In response to the shooting, the Trump administration enacted a bump stock ban in 2018. However, this regulation was later blocked by The Supreme Court, citing it as a violation of the Second Amendment.
The legislation also targets "ghost guns," firearms without serial numbers typically assembled from parts kits. This issue has been a focal point in national gun legislation. In 2022, the Biden administration enacted a regulation requiring these parts kits to be serialized. This law is currently being challenged by gun rights advocates in the Supreme Court.
Sen. Polehanki has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter. As the debate around gun control continues to rage, the question remains: will these new laws serve to protect citizens or infringe upon their constitutional rights? The answer to this question will undoubtedly shape the future of gun legislation in Michigan and potentially across the nation.
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