Debate over carrying weapons in public
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The debate over carrying weapons in public. It's raged on for years with passionate voices both for and against the right to carry.
It's been on the books for decades but a group of West Michigan residents were out in force Saturday afternoon raising awareness of the state's open carry law.
"You know they are thinking man with a gun - bad man with a gun," said Joel Fulton
Joel Fulton is co-owner of Southside Sportsman Club in Battle Creek. And he freely carries his gun by his side. He's just one of nearly tens of thousands of Michigan residents who are taking advantage of the state's open carry law
A law that allows residents to openly carry firearms in public. Although the law has been on the books for years more or less the general public hasn't embraced it. That's where this group of citizens come int.
Most if not all these members are of south West Michigan open carry. On Saturday they walked through the streets of Battle Creek with their guns in full display but this pulbic display was not meant to make people uneasy.
They say it's the exact opposite. Still though from time to time. The state's open carry laws do make some nervous.
"You know police may get involved. Someone will call 9-1-1 and say there is a guy with a gun here," said Fulton.
And if that happen these folks routinely work with law enforcement on open law education and as part of that education piece many of these folks travel the state informing both police and citizens of the open carry law.
