I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
Michigan hunters who use medical marijuana may be able to keep their guns despite a recent Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire Arms memo that says marijuana users may not own firearms.
In an open letter issued on Sept. 21, ATF Assistant Director of Enforcement Arthur Herbert said federal law prohibits unlawful users of controlled substances — including state certified medical marijuana patients — from possessing firearms or ammunition. He also said that it’s a crime to sell a gun to someone if the seller “has reasonable cause” to believe that the buyer uses illegal drugs.
Jackson County Sheriff Steve Rand told the Jackson Citizen Patriot that he doubts the memo will change much in Jackson or in Michigan.
“A federal memo is a far cry from a Supreme Court decision,” Rand said Thursday. “It is not something that will necessarily make us change our policy suddenly.”
The sheriff’s office issues purchase permits to people wishing to buy handguns. The permit application does not ask about drug use, but Rand’s staff asks “probing questions” if there is suspicion. Rand said employees who issue purchase permits have just been sent for more training on the procedure.
Drugs and guns do not mix, Rand said, and his office does everything they can to keep firearms out of the hands of users and addicts. That said, Rand does not believe a person with a medical marijuana card is always under the influence and should never possess a firearm.
The application for a concealed pistol license in Michigan does not ask about drug use but does require that the applicant state that she is “not prohibited under federal law from possession or transporting a firearm.”
Jackson County Circuit Judge John McBain, who teaches concealed weapon safety courses, told the Citizen Patriot that he doubts federal prosecutors will begin to pursue medical marijuana patients who have concealed weapons licenses.
“I guess they could do it under the law,” McBain said. “I would be surprised to see the U.S. attorney’s office make that an issue.”
The Flint Journal reports that in Genesee County where “[both] medical marijuana and firearms have widespread popularity,” the gun board approved a concealed weapons license for a medical marijuana patient.
This year, the board decided — by a 2-1 vote — to allow a 36-year-old medical marijuana user to keep his concealed weapon privileges. Those voting to allow the license did so based on assurance from the U.S. attorney’s office that it had no intention of prosecuting CCW holders violating federal law.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter