BREAKING: Michigan Gov. Snyder To Veto Bill Allowing Guns In Schools

By Scott Keyes/Think Progress

One day before the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, the Michigan Legislaturepassed a bill to specifically allow guns into schools and other “gun-free zones.” This bill joined a so-called “right-to-work” law and an extreme abortion ban, the GOP-controlled legislature rammed through during its lame duck session.

Following the mass-shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, however, Gov. Rick Snyder (R-MI) promised to give the guns bill “extra consideration.” According to the Detroit News, Snyder has now decided to veto the legislation.

Gov. Rick Snyder plans to veto legislation allowing concealed weapons in public schools, according to bill sponsor Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville.

The bill allowing highly trained gun owners to carry concealed weapons inside public schools was delivered to Snyder’s desk Tuesday.

“He’s not going to sign it,” Green told The Detroit News.

The Connecticut tragedy has already forced many strident gun supporters to re-examine their beliefs. Most notably, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who once cut an ad featuring himself literally shooting a piece of legislation, is now leading the push for gun control on Capitol Hill in Sandy Hook’s wake.

Caught On Live Mic: Iowa GOPer Refers To GOP Gun Law As ‘The Crazy, Give-A-Handgun-To-A-Schizophrenic Bill’

By Alex Seitz-Wald

The Republican-led Iowa state House is considering a bill that would allow Iowans to carry a weapon openly or concealed in public without a license, permission from a sheriff, background check, or any training. The bill is known as “Alaska carry,” or the “Alaska bill,” because Alaska was one of the first states in the country to implement it.Arizona and Wyoming have similar laws.

In a “snafu” on the House floor yesterday, House Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Kaugmann (R) was caught privately acknowledging the danger of the bill while speaking near a microphone he thought was off, but was in fact turned on:

REP. STEVE LUKAN (R): The Alaska bill – what’s the Alaska bill? [...]

KAUFMAN: The crazy, give-a-handgun-to-a-schizophrenic bill.

AIDE OFF CAMERA: His microphone is on.

[Microphone goes dead]

Watch it:

“Rep. Kaufmann’s characterization of this bill and the entire conversation proves that even Republicans know HSB 219 is a dangerous piece of legislation that jeopardizes public safety,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky.

Of course, Kaufman is right — this bill is “crazy.” Just one day before Kaufman’s run-in with the live mic, 15 law enforcement officials warned the legislature of the dangers of this proposed law. Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner specifically warned that without a permiting system, “sheriffs could no longer screen people with mental health or substance abuse issues or other disqualifies.” Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar said that in recent days alone, he had had four people in his office seeking permits who were prohibited from carrying firearms under federal law.

In the wake of the tragic shooting in Arizona — a state which already has the law Iowa is considering — Iowa Republicans should be acutely aware of the danger Kaufman joked about.

UPDATEAlaska Republican congressman Don Young has signed an insurrectionist pledge written by Alaska militia organizer Schaeffer Cox that advocated for opposing our government in response to gun control laws. Watch this video: