State Legislature Doing Favors for the Gun Lobby, Punishing Michigan Cities and Michigan Taxpayers

Tomorrow, the Michigan House Local Government Committee will consider HB 4795, a bill that, if enacted, would line the pockets of the gun lobby by giving the NRA and other out-of-state special interest groups the power to sue local governments for enforcing reasonable gun laws—and entitling them to large payouts at Michigan taxpayers’ expense. The bill would also force local officials, including police officers, to risk thousands of dollars in fines for protecting Michigan communities, and have a dangerous chilling effect on enforcement of local public safety laws.

• HB 4795 would allow trial attorneys for the NRA and other special interest groups to sue Michigan cities and townships – and charge Michigan taxpayers for their attorney’s fees. The bill would make cities pay damages, costs, and the NRA’s attorney’s fees—simply for passing and enforcing laws designed to keep citizens safe. Rather than doing favors for gun lobby groups looking to block local public safety protections and fill their coffers with taxpayer dollars, the legislature should focus on keeping Michigan communities safe.
  
• Enacting HB 4795 would make Michigan one of only a handful of states that allow the gun lobby to take cities and local governments to court. Since Pennsylvania passed a similar law last year, at least four cities have been sued, including a suit filed by a gun lobby group based in Texas.
  
• HB 4795 would force local officials, including police officers, to risk thousands of dollars in fines for protecting Michigan communities. Under HB 4795, local officials who knowingly enact or enforce reasonable gun laws would be fined up to five thousand dollars – and be forced to pay from their own pockets.

Tomorrow, volunteers with the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, will attend the House Local Government Committee Hearing to show opposition to this dangerous bill. The hearing is set for 12:00pm in Room 307 of the House Office Building in Lansing.