Today, Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed two bills aimed at changing how a person can obtain a concealed pistol permit in the state.
Senate Bills 789 and 790 were passed during the Legislature's last "lame duck" session.
Gov. Snyder said there were several elements of the bills he supported, but there was one loophole he didn't support -- the legislation, he said, could have put victims of domestic abuse at risk.
From his veto letter:
I am particularly concerned by the fact that SB 789 would allow certain persons who are the subject of a personal protection order (PPO) to obtain a concealed pistol license. Under the current law, no person who is the subject of a PPO may obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol. Senate Bill 789 would limit this restriction to apply only in those cases where the PPO also includes express language stating that the subject of the PPO is not allowed to purchase or possess a firearm. When seeking a PPO, victims of domestic abuse may not know to ask the court for a specific restriction on the subject's ability to purchase and possess firearms. Today, PPOs issued without this language still have the effect of preventing the subject from obtaining a concealed pistol license. Because SB 789 would remove this blanket protection in cases when the PPO fails to specifically address firearms-whatever the reason for the omission-it may increase the risks faced by victims of domestic abuse.
