LANSING, Mich. (Jan. 20, 2021) — Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) has released the following statement in response to yesterday’s supplemental budget request to the Michigan Legislature by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in which she requested $5 million for Capitol security upgrades. This appropriation would be enough funding to implement a complete ban on all firearms at the Michigan Capitol except for law enforcement and Sergeants-at-Arms.
“This $5 million appropriation, if approved by the legislature, means that the Michigan Capitol Commission would have the necessary financial resources to acquire security equipment and hire additional staff in order to implement a full weapons ban at our State Capitol. By requesting this funding, Governor Whitmer has demonstrated that she has made the safety of legislators, staff, and Capitol visitors a priority and has likewise eliminated any excuses for the Commission’s failure to get the job done by moving from a ban on open carry to a ban on all weapons.
“I call on my Republican colleagues to seal the deal by passing Senate Bills 34 and 35, which have been reintroduced from last session by Senator Bayer and me, respectively, and that would ban all guns from the Capitol Building.”
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