Steven Mace
01-29-2002, 09:32 PM
Gun board permits up
Monday, January 28, 2002
BRYCE HOFFMAN
THE SAGINAW NEWS
Part of Virginia Whelton's job as a purchasing agent is to escort cash and blank checks from place to place.
It's a nervous job for the 50-year-old Swan Creek Township woman, but she keeps peace of mind hidden nearby. She carries a concealed handgun.
"I've been around guns for 30 years," she said. "I can carry one. It's my right to do so if I choose."
Whelton is among hundreds of mid-Michigan residents who have sought concealed weapons permits under a new state law that requires county gun boards to approve applicants unless they have criminal records or mental health problems.
"There's a tremendous increase in the number of people coming in," said Sheriff Charles L. Brown. "It hasn't slowed down a whole lot yet. We're still behind."
Saginaw County authorities have issued permits to 585 applicants since the law took effect July 1, while 287 more await review. The gun board has denied 14 applicants.
The wave of applications has forced members of the gun board to interview about 30 applicants a week. Before the new law, the gun board considered about 25 applications once a month, said County Clerk Susan S. Kaltenbach.
The gun board comprises representatives from the Sheriff's Department, the prosecutor's office and the state police Bridgeport Post.
Whelton, who carried a concealed weapon for four years under the old law, said packing a pistol provides her a sense of security.
"I do a lot of my shopping before work and at night," she said. "I do feel safer with it, just that little added edge. If my husband is gone for a few days, I'm not scared a bit."
Statewide, about 25,000 have received the permits; more than 14,000 applications are pending.
Oakland County has had the most applications, 4,883, and issued the most licenses, 3,278. Genesee has issued the second highest number at 1,520, followed by Kent at 1,055.
The most populous county, Wayne, has had 4,252 applications and issued 595 licenses.
Authorities have suspended or revoked seven licenses, including one from a Gratiot County resident who carried a weapon while having an elevated blood-alcohol level, police said. None has involved a shooting.
"We're pretty pleased with the way it's working," said Ross Dykman, director of the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners. "There have been some delays. But there haven't been any serious problems."
Dennis Stanley counts himself among the responsible. He sought a permit to make sure it was legal for him to transport his handgun to a friend's home for target shooting or to northern Michigan for hunting.
"I'm just doing it for the convenience," said the 52-year-old Spaulding Township man. "You don't have to tear the gun all apart: the bullets here, the gun there, all that."
Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III, who led the group that tried to block the law, said he remains skeptical.
"I certainly believe that the vast number of people getting these permits do not pose a threat," he said.
But Dunnings said gun boards cannot adequately screen all applicants, "and there are going to be tragedies."
Richard A. Maltby, a 64-year-old Midland man, said he would feel safer if nobody carried concealed weapons.
"I have no confidence in the screening process of people getting those guns," he said. "If people want to own handguns and shoot handguns, I'd prefer to have them having those guns and shooting those guns at a sporting range.
"I just don't see the number of incidents in our society that would demand we should all carry concealed weapons to protect our lives."
Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas said six months is too early to tell whether the law is effective; he said his concerns remain.
"It's going to proliferate and increase the number of handguns overall in our community," he said. "I don't fear the lawful citizens that own the handguns. I'm concerned about the crooks who break into their homes and steal them."
Thomas and Brown each complained the gun board is chewing up too much police time as patrol budgets continue to shrink. It also burdens the county clerk's office with extra paperwork, Brown said.
Although other counties, including Genesee, have streamlined by approving permits without interviewing the applicants, Brown said the Saginaw County board will continue to meet with every prospective gun carrier, sometimes for up to an hour.
"We have actually found some by doing interviews that we have refused," he said. "Sometimes, you need to ask those few additional questions."
Steve Mace
Monday, January 28, 2002
BRYCE HOFFMAN
THE SAGINAW NEWS
Part of Virginia Whelton's job as a purchasing agent is to escort cash and blank checks from place to place.
It's a nervous job for the 50-year-old Swan Creek Township woman, but she keeps peace of mind hidden nearby. She carries a concealed handgun.
"I've been around guns for 30 years," she said. "I can carry one. It's my right to do so if I choose."
Whelton is among hundreds of mid-Michigan residents who have sought concealed weapons permits under a new state law that requires county gun boards to approve applicants unless they have criminal records or mental health problems.
"There's a tremendous increase in the number of people coming in," said Sheriff Charles L. Brown. "It hasn't slowed down a whole lot yet. We're still behind."
Saginaw County authorities have issued permits to 585 applicants since the law took effect July 1, while 287 more await review. The gun board has denied 14 applicants.
The wave of applications has forced members of the gun board to interview about 30 applicants a week. Before the new law, the gun board considered about 25 applications once a month, said County Clerk Susan S. Kaltenbach.
The gun board comprises representatives from the Sheriff's Department, the prosecutor's office and the state police Bridgeport Post.
Whelton, who carried a concealed weapon for four years under the old law, said packing a pistol provides her a sense of security.
"I do a lot of my shopping before work and at night," she said. "I do feel safer with it, just that little added edge. If my husband is gone for a few days, I'm not scared a bit."
Statewide, about 25,000 have received the permits; more than 14,000 applications are pending.
Oakland County has had the most applications, 4,883, and issued the most licenses, 3,278. Genesee has issued the second highest number at 1,520, followed by Kent at 1,055.
The most populous county, Wayne, has had 4,252 applications and issued 595 licenses.
Authorities have suspended or revoked seven licenses, including one from a Gratiot County resident who carried a weapon while having an elevated blood-alcohol level, police said. None has involved a shooting.
"We're pretty pleased with the way it's working," said Ross Dykman, director of the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners. "There have been some delays. But there haven't been any serious problems."
Dennis Stanley counts himself among the responsible. He sought a permit to make sure it was legal for him to transport his handgun to a friend's home for target shooting or to northern Michigan for hunting.
"I'm just doing it for the convenience," said the 52-year-old Spaulding Township man. "You don't have to tear the gun all apart: the bullets here, the gun there, all that."
Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III, who led the group that tried to block the law, said he remains skeptical.
"I certainly believe that the vast number of people getting these permits do not pose a threat," he said.
But Dunnings said gun boards cannot adequately screen all applicants, "and there are going to be tragedies."
Richard A. Maltby, a 64-year-old Midland man, said he would feel safer if nobody carried concealed weapons.
"I have no confidence in the screening process of people getting those guns," he said. "If people want to own handguns and shoot handguns, I'd prefer to have them having those guns and shooting those guns at a sporting range.
"I just don't see the number of incidents in our society that would demand we should all carry concealed weapons to protect our lives."
Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas said six months is too early to tell whether the law is effective; he said his concerns remain.
"It's going to proliferate and increase the number of handguns overall in our community," he said. "I don't fear the lawful citizens that own the handguns. I'm concerned about the crooks who break into their homes and steal them."
Thomas and Brown each complained the gun board is chewing up too much police time as patrol budgets continue to shrink. It also burdens the county clerk's office with extra paperwork, Brown said.
Although other counties, including Genesee, have streamlined by approving permits without interviewing the applicants, Brown said the Saginaw County board will continue to meet with every prospective gun carrier, sometimes for up to an hour.
"We have actually found some by doing interviews that we have refused," he said. "Sometimes, you need to ask those few additional questions."
Steve Mace