Michigan House Republicans Block Vote on Constitutional Carry
House leadership abuses rules to derail efforts to bring pro-gun legislation to House Floor
Lansing, MI — On Wednesday, Michigan House Republican leadership blocked efforts by State Representative Steve Carra to bring up House Bills 5364-5367, commonly known as Constitutional Carry.
State Representative Carra was using a motion to discharge the House Judiciary Committee of the bill package which has been sitting on its docket since April 12th. The motion died after Speaker Pro Temp. Pamela Hornberger deemed it to have no support.
“Legislative tyranny was on full display in the Michigan House of Representatives today as House Republican leadership showed their contempt for the Michigan Constitution and House legislative rules,” said Brenden Boudreau, Executive Director of Great Lakes Gun Rights. “They flagrantly violated the rules and their oath by blocking a recorded vote on pro-gun legislation – and Michiganders deserve to know what they did.”
Constitutional Carry legislation last passed through the Michigan House of Representatives in 2017 as HB4416-4419 by a vote of 59-49. If passed into law in Michigan, Constitutional Carry would allow law-abiding citizens to carry a pistol openly or concealed without having to obtain a Concealed Pistol License.
Constitutional Carry does not eliminate the permitting system – it simply renders it optional.
“Sadly, the abuse of the House rules by legislative leadership is not surprising. What is surprising is how willingly they did it to a member of their own caucus, and against pro-gun legislation that most Republican lawmakers claim to support,” Boudreau concluded.
Great Lakes Gun Rights is continuing its call on Michigan House leadership to bring these Constitutional Carry bills to the House floor for an up-or-down vote.