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A coalition of Republican lawmakers want to make the AR-15, a semi-automatic firearm, Michigan’s state rifle, a move that concerned gun control advocates.
HB 5792, introduced by Rep. Brian BeGole (R-Antrim Twp.), the former sheriff of Shiawassee County, would make the military-grade weapon the state’s official rifle. The goal of the new designation is to destigmatize the AR-15, and the people who own them, according to a release from BeGole.
“Millions of people across the country and thousands in Michigan own an AR-15. This distinction recognizes these law-abiding gun owners who are often vilified just for having a firearm as a hobbyist or to keep their homes and families safe,” BeGole stated in the release.
But Ryan Bates, executive director of End Gun Violence Michigan, said the bill supports a trend of “extremist” politicians militarizing gun culture in the state.
“We have to understand this as part and parcel of threats to our democracy by extremists,” Bates said. “…This sort of symbol is an attempt to make our political discourse and debate not about how we’re going to make people’s lives better or improve our state but about threats and violence.”
Bates said it was important to distinguish people who use guns for protection or hunting, and people who use AR-15s, which can kill a large number of people quickly. AR-15s have become a threatening symbol from the far-right, Bates said, and people working in politics or elections have been intimidated by these weapons in the last few years. Bates pointed out the example of the Jan. 6 insurrection and safety fears for poll workers.
“They are, one, trying to normalize the presence of military grade hardware in our society,” Bates said. “That’s why you see things like open carry. And two, they are trying to militarize politics. That’s what this is about, and you cannot have a functioning democracy at the barrel of a gun.”
BeGole also referenced that this bill would help halt future legislation limiting gun use. Last year, Michigan passed four major laws that limited gun access, including safe storage and background check requirements.
BeGole says that nine other states have designated their own state rifles; Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.
It is highly unlikely the proposed legislation would make Michigan the 10th, as it would need to fight through a Democratic-controlled House, Senate and governor’s desk. The bill was introduced June 6 and assigned to the House Government Operations Committee, normally a repository for legislation with little chance of success.
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