 It was a full house at the October 17, 2013 Board of Commissioners Meeting |  Extra security was on hand at the meeting |
The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners voted on October 17, 2013 to advocate for the repeal of two Michigan Laws related to self-defense and gun control. The Vote was 5 to 4 in favor. The resolution reads in part[1];
WHEREAS, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners believes that Public Act 309 of 2006 can place an unreasonable burden on prosecutors to overcome the presumption that a defendant claiming self-defense acted upon a reasonable and honest belief of imminent death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault, especially in cases in which the only witness who could rebut the presumption is dead; and
WHEREAS, Public Act 319 of 1990, the Firearms and Ammunition Act, impedes local units of government from protecting the public health, safety and welfare by preventing the establishment of reasonable local regulations concerning the sale, transfer, transportation or possession of firearms and ammunition;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners calls upon the Michigan State Legislature and Governor Snyder to repeal Public Act 309 of 2006 and Public Act 319 of 1990
Many members of the community came to speak both for and against the resolution. The speakers were about 2 to 1 against approval of the resolution. Many of the speakers in favor of the resolution spoke against the carrying of a handgun because they felt it increased the likelihood that someone would be shot. The laws for which the resolution advocates repeal do not affect the right to carry a handgun. Some of the speakers also said that they felt the law or its application was racist. Some advocates for repeal have cited the Travon Martin case in Florida as a reason that the law needs to be repealed, although the Florida Stand Your Ground Law was never invoked at that trial.
The speakers who were against repeal of these laws most often spoke of their right to defend themselves and their families from criminals who threatened them. Many gave statistics on the likelihood of harm to victims who tried to run away.
[1] Proposed repeal of SYG law
WHEREAS, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners believes that Public Act 309 of 2006 can place an unreasonable burden on prosecutors to overcome the presumption that a defendant claiming self-defense acted upon a reasonable and honest belief of imminent death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault, especially in cases in which the only witness who could rebut the presumption is dead; and
WHEREAS, Public Act 319 of 1990, the Firearms and Ammunition Act, impedes local units of government from protecting the public health, safety and welfare by preventing the establishment of reasonable local regulations concerning the sale, transfer, transportation or possession of firearms and ammunition;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners calls upon the Michigan State Legislature and Governor Snyder to repeal Public Act 309 of 2006 and Public Act 319 of 1990
Many members of the community came to speak both for and against the resolution. The speakers were about 2 to 1 against approval of the resolution. Many of the speakers in favor of the resolution spoke against the carrying of a handgun because they felt it increased the likelihood that someone would be shot. The laws for which the resolution advocates repeal do not affect the right to carry a handgun. Some of the speakers also said that they felt the law or its application was racist. Some advocates for repeal have cited the Travon Martin case in Florida as a reason that the law needs to be repealed, although the Florida Stand Your Ground Law was never invoked at that trial.
The speakers who were against repeal of these laws most often spoke of their right to defend themselves and their families from criminals who threatened them. Many gave statistics on the likelihood of harm to victims who tried to run away.
[1] Proposed repeal of SYG law
All but two of the Commissioners spoke at this meeting or a previous meeting about their positions on the resolution. Two Democrats voted against the resolution but never spoke to explain their positions. Those included Roland Sizemore and Kent Martinez-Kratz. Republicans Alicia Ping and Dan Smith both voted against the resolution. Commissioners who voted to approve the repeal resolution included Board Chair Yousef Rabhi, Commissioners Ronnie Peterson, Andy LaBarre, Conan Smith and Felicia Brabec.
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