There's a poll on CCW in Michigan at: http://www.thefiringline.com:8080/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38156
At that site, I found this interesting bit.
The guy Newell sounds like a real weasel.
Italics mine.
http://www.zwire.com/news/newsstory.cfm?newsid=711644&title=State%20rep%2E%20candidates%20speak%20at%20pro%2Dgun%20rally&BRD=1009&PAG=461&CATNAME=Top%20Stories&CATEGORYID=410
State rep. candidates speak at pro-gun rally
By David T. Young editor.
Perhaps the biggest issue in the heated race for 87th District state representative has been gun control.
Trying to bring that message home was a special Pro-Second Amendment rally last Friday night at the Barry County Conservation Club, where James Bailey and Gary Newell, the two local Republican Party candidates for a seat in the State Legislature, made a joint appearance. Bailey Friday evening was attempting to hold on to the support he's been getting from the pro-gun lobby while Newell was trying to convince at least some in the overflow crowd of 70 to 80 that he's not an enemy of citizens' rights to own and use firearms. "I'm not the second coming of Laura Baird," Newell said, referring to the Okemos area legislator who is regarded as the greatest enemy of Second Amendment rights. "I am not anti-gun ownership. I got my first gun at 12 and I've owned a gun since then.... I have no desire to take away anyone's gun or pass more restrictive laws."
(oh oh)
Newell said he opposes the current bill on carrying a concealed weapon that is before the legislature because "It isn't fair or equitable, there is no appeal process, and if denied, there is no place (for the applicant) to go." Newell sat on the local gun board for six years, which is one reason why some pro-gun people don't want to endorse him.
"I think we operated within the law," Newell said, "but I don't think the law is fair and equitable." A crucial sticking point between him and local gun enthusiasts has been on carrying a concealed weapon. Newell said his problem with the current CCW bill in Lansing is that not everyone should be able to "pack a piece." He said a convicted felon is one example and a person charged with a felony who could plead down to a misde-meanor. Another example of someone who shouldn't be allowed to carry, he said, is "My Aunt Betty with Alzheimer's," whom he said could get a gun under the proposed CCW legislation. When asked if he accepted any campaign funds from an anti-gun Political Action Committee (PAC), he replied, "I didn't think there's one out there." Someone suggested it was the Michigan State Police Troopers Association, of which Newell said he has been a proud member for 15 years. "They've contributed to candidates on both sides of the issue," he said.
Bailey didn't mince any words on the is-sue. "I still support the Second Amendment and the Michigan Constitution," he said. "Many states are already doing it (issuing CCW permits to citizens) and they're doing fine. We have just as good citizens in Michigan and this district and we deserve that right, too." Bailey said that local sports shop owner Pete Schantz told him that the real problem with issuance of CCW permits is that there is no followup on people who illegally try to carry conceal weapons, there is no penalty against them. Bailey urged gun owners to be active in the political process. "The Million Moms March is still raising millions of dollars. I want to urge all of you to vote. The constitution gives us the right to bear arms and to vote." Bailey said he supports the current pro-posed CCW legislation. "I want to see it pass," he said. "I'll do everything I can to see it pass."
In a question and answer session, both were asked how they protect themselves and their families from criminal elements when they travel. Newell said, "I stay away from area." Bailey responded, "I can't protect them without the right to bear arms." When Newell was asked how many CCW permits were issued when he was a member of the local gun board, he said he wasn't sure. He added,
"I've already said the process is unfair. I think it's unfair and inequitable the way CCW permits are issued. But we enforced the law, whether it was right or wrong."
Both agreed that new gun laws won't make a lot of difference, opting instead for enforcing the laws already on the books. Both were asked if they would support a CCW law like Vermont's, where almost anyone can pack a piece. The state has one of the lowest violent crime rates in the nation. Newell reiterated that he has no problem with responsible gun owners, but he won't support just anyone being able to get a permit. Bailey said, "A few people fall through the cracks, but we have to look at the big-ger picture. You still have less crime with the CCW legislation."
The evening's special guest speaker was former State Rep. and State Sen. Alan Cropsey, who advanced the notion that "The roots of gun control laws in this state are steeped in racism and religious big-otry." He said efforts to regulate gun ownership got moving during the Civil War when people in the South tried to stop blacks from getting guns. The North joined the ef-fort, he said, when blacks migrated from the South looking for work in the early 20th century. He said there was a famous case in Detroit where a black doctor was harassed by white marchers and he shot at them, killing one. Clarence Darrow successfully defended the black man in the high profile case, prompting even stronger gun control and CCW measures statewide.
Cropsey introduced a CCW bill in the State Legislature several years ago. "The legislation I proposed I thought was fairly wimpy, but it was the best I could get," he said, later noting that his bill failed to even get out of committee be-cause Democrats had the majority in the House. Cropsey said Hitler chose not to invade Switzerland in the 1930s because though he could take it, he knew that every citizen in that country was armed. He added that places in the U.S. that make it easier for citizens to be armed are seeing a reduction in crime. "The key is for kids to be educated," he said. "We've got to keep pressure on the school boards and history and government teachers to talk about the Second Amend-ment and how its history is tied in with freedom... Once they take away your fire-power, your freedoms are over." One member of the audience asked,
"Why can't the public education system spend as much on gun education as it does on sex education?"
Also speaking during the evening were Mark Carson, chairman of the board of
"Brassroots," and State Rep. Terry Geiger, who now holds the job Newell and Bailey are fighting for. Geiger called gun control as divisive an issue as abortion, "equally as vicious and malicious". He said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in Lansing support gun rights, but there is tremendous pressure from "the very far left." Other problems have included passage of the Brady Bill and the Columbine incident.
Carson, who also is running for sheriff of Oakland County, talked about banding together to gain some political clout. He mentioned that the pro-gun lobby has been targeting unfriendly politicians. "We're dedicated to the political defeat of those who support legislation to limit or take away the right to bear arms." Their biggest target in 1998 was Laura Baird, "the worst gun hater in Lansing." They contributed $35,000 to her opponent, in the words of Carson, "a huge hammer to bonk her on the head with, but it wasn't enough." Carson promised that the gun lobby will be a force to be reckoned with in the 2000 election.
©Hastings Banner 2000
At that site, I found this interesting bit.
The guy Newell sounds like a real weasel.
Italics mine.
http://www.zwire.com/news/newsstory.cfm?newsid=711644&title=State%20rep%2E%20candidates%20speak%20at%20pro%2Dgun%20rally&BRD=1009&PAG=461&CATNAME=Top%20Stories&CATEGORYID=410
State rep. candidates speak at pro-gun rally
By David T. Young editor.
Perhaps the biggest issue in the heated race for 87th District state representative has been gun control.
Trying to bring that message home was a special Pro-Second Amendment rally last Friday night at the Barry County Conservation Club, where James Bailey and Gary Newell, the two local Republican Party candidates for a seat in the State Legislature, made a joint appearance. Bailey Friday evening was attempting to hold on to the support he's been getting from the pro-gun lobby while Newell was trying to convince at least some in the overflow crowd of 70 to 80 that he's not an enemy of citizens' rights to own and use firearms. "I'm not the second coming of Laura Baird," Newell said, referring to the Okemos area legislator who is regarded as the greatest enemy of Second Amendment rights. "I am not anti-gun ownership. I got my first gun at 12 and I've owned a gun since then.... I have no desire to take away anyone's gun or pass more restrictive laws."
(oh oh)
Newell said he opposes the current bill on carrying a concealed weapon that is before the legislature because "It isn't fair or equitable, there is no appeal process, and if denied, there is no place (for the applicant) to go." Newell sat on the local gun board for six years, which is one reason why some pro-gun people don't want to endorse him.
"I think we operated within the law," Newell said, "but I don't think the law is fair and equitable." A crucial sticking point between him and local gun enthusiasts has been on carrying a concealed weapon. Newell said his problem with the current CCW bill in Lansing is that not everyone should be able to "pack a piece." He said a convicted felon is one example and a person charged with a felony who could plead down to a misde-meanor. Another example of someone who shouldn't be allowed to carry, he said, is "My Aunt Betty with Alzheimer's," whom he said could get a gun under the proposed CCW legislation. When asked if he accepted any campaign funds from an anti-gun Political Action Committee (PAC), he replied, "I didn't think there's one out there." Someone suggested it was the Michigan State Police Troopers Association, of which Newell said he has been a proud member for 15 years. "They've contributed to candidates on both sides of the issue," he said.
Bailey didn't mince any words on the is-sue. "I still support the Second Amendment and the Michigan Constitution," he said. "Many states are already doing it (issuing CCW permits to citizens) and they're doing fine. We have just as good citizens in Michigan and this district and we deserve that right, too." Bailey said that local sports shop owner Pete Schantz told him that the real problem with issuance of CCW permits is that there is no followup on people who illegally try to carry conceal weapons, there is no penalty against them. Bailey urged gun owners to be active in the political process. "The Million Moms March is still raising millions of dollars. I want to urge all of you to vote. The constitution gives us the right to bear arms and to vote." Bailey said he supports the current pro-posed CCW legislation. "I want to see it pass," he said. "I'll do everything I can to see it pass."
In a question and answer session, both were asked how they protect themselves and their families from criminal elements when they travel. Newell said, "I stay away from area." Bailey responded, "I can't protect them without the right to bear arms." When Newell was asked how many CCW permits were issued when he was a member of the local gun board, he said he wasn't sure. He added,
"I've already said the process is unfair. I think it's unfair and inequitable the way CCW permits are issued. But we enforced the law, whether it was right or wrong."
Both agreed that new gun laws won't make a lot of difference, opting instead for enforcing the laws already on the books. Both were asked if they would support a CCW law like Vermont's, where almost anyone can pack a piece. The state has one of the lowest violent crime rates in the nation. Newell reiterated that he has no problem with responsible gun owners, but he won't support just anyone being able to get a permit. Bailey said, "A few people fall through the cracks, but we have to look at the big-ger picture. You still have less crime with the CCW legislation."
The evening's special guest speaker was former State Rep. and State Sen. Alan Cropsey, who advanced the notion that "The roots of gun control laws in this state are steeped in racism and religious big-otry." He said efforts to regulate gun ownership got moving during the Civil War when people in the South tried to stop blacks from getting guns. The North joined the ef-fort, he said, when blacks migrated from the South looking for work in the early 20th century. He said there was a famous case in Detroit where a black doctor was harassed by white marchers and he shot at them, killing one. Clarence Darrow successfully defended the black man in the high profile case, prompting even stronger gun control and CCW measures statewide.
Cropsey introduced a CCW bill in the State Legislature several years ago. "The legislation I proposed I thought was fairly wimpy, but it was the best I could get," he said, later noting that his bill failed to even get out of committee be-cause Democrats had the majority in the House. Cropsey said Hitler chose not to invade Switzerland in the 1930s because though he could take it, he knew that every citizen in that country was armed. He added that places in the U.S. that make it easier for citizens to be armed are seeing a reduction in crime. "The key is for kids to be educated," he said. "We've got to keep pressure on the school boards and history and government teachers to talk about the Second Amend-ment and how its history is tied in with freedom... Once they take away your fire-power, your freedoms are over." One member of the audience asked,
"Why can't the public education system spend as much on gun education as it does on sex education?"
Also speaking during the evening were Mark Carson, chairman of the board of
"Brassroots," and State Rep. Terry Geiger, who now holds the job Newell and Bailey are fighting for. Geiger called gun control as divisive an issue as abortion, "equally as vicious and malicious". He said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in Lansing support gun rights, but there is tremendous pressure from "the very far left." Other problems have included passage of the Brady Bill and the Columbine incident.
Carson, who also is running for sheriff of Oakland County, talked about banding together to gain some political clout. He mentioned that the pro-gun lobby has been targeting unfriendly politicians. "We're dedicated to the political defeat of those who support legislation to limit or take away the right to bear arms." Their biggest target in 1998 was Laura Baird, "the worst gun hater in Lansing." They contributed $35,000 to her opponent, in the words of Carson, "a huge hammer to bonk her on the head with, but it wasn't enough." Carson promised that the gun lobby will be a force to be reckoned with in the 2000 election.
©Hastings Banner 2000