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A statewide petition drive in which MAP and other MPLC-affiliated organizations played an active role has placed the decision of whether to ease restrictions on concealed weapons in the hands of voters. Although the State Legislature changed Michigan's concealed weapons law from a "may" issue to a "shall" issue standard by passing Public Act 381 of 2000, opponents of the law were able to gather more than 260,000 signatures on petitions demanding that implementation of the measure be put to a vote of the people. That vote will come in the next gubernatorial election, in November of 2002. The result of the grassroots petition drive was an impressive show of opposition, according to MAP Executive Director Fred Timpner. "In order to be successful, the petition drive required 150,000 signatures, so the level of opposition is very evident," he declared. "The public response makes it clear that a great many Michigan's citizens are not in favor of county gun boards issuing CCW permits to anyone who meets less stringent criteria than previously existed." "We believe the citizenry will overturn this act." Timpner emphasized that neither MAP nor the MPLC opposes the law on the basis of pro-gun control sentiments. "We do not favor gun control and this is not a gun control issue - it's an officer safety issue," he declared. "Safety of law enforcement personnel is the paramount consideration." "It should also be noted that, should the law become effective, a police chief can prevent off-duty officers from carrying weapons, if such an order would lower the department's liability. This is just one of the other problems with eased restrictions." Timpner praised the role of Michigan Attorney General Jennifer M. Granholm in opposing relaxed CCW standards. "She has provided excellent support all the way," he said. "Attorney General Granholm is genuinely concerned about police officer safety. She has frequently attended police funerals because of her personal feelings; not merely to be seen at media events but because she shares the law enforcement community's sense of loss when such tragedies occur." MAP and the MPLC have an excellent relationship with Attorney General Granholm and her office." The Attorney General's office underscored both its stance on the CCW question and its strong relationship with MAP and other police organizations in the following statement provided to News 'n Views: "Attorney General Jennifer M. Granholm has stood solidly with the Michigan Association of Police and numerous other state and local law enforcement agencies in opposing changing Michigan's CCW law from a 'may issue' to a 'shall issue' statute. As the state's chief law enforcement officer, Granholm's opposition has centered on two key areas: the need for continued local control of concealed weapons permitting decisions and the need to ensure police officer safety." The Attorney General directly addressed the primary concern by declaring: "This is a simple question of officer safety. Increasing the number of hidden weapons automatically increases the potential for an officer to encounter a suspect carrying a hidden weapon." "Our police officers already respond to some of the most dangerous situations imaginable," Granholm continued. "To unnecessarily increase that danger is a disservice to the men and women who protect our communities every day." Timpner cautioned that continuing legal challenges to the successful result of the petition drive are likely. "The day the petitions were presented to the Secretary of State, proponents of the new law tried to block their effect in court," he pointed out. "A judge refused to halt the certification process. However, it is doubtful that was the final attempt we will see."
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