Michigan Governor Rick Snyder vetoed a bill that would allow concealed guns in public schools just four days after the massacre of 20 pupils in Connecticut.
"While we must vigilantly protect the rights of law-abiding firearm owners, we also must ensure the right of designated public entities to exercise to their best discretion in matters of safety and security," he said in a letter sent to the legislature. "These public venues need clear legal authority to ban firearms on their premises if they see fit to do so."
The Michigan bill, approved by the legislature less than 24 hours before the Newtown killings, is a practical way to let teachers who’ve completed training protect themselves and their pupils, said Senator Tom Casperson, a Republican sponsor of the bill. He said some teachers at the Connecticut school died trying to shield children.
“To me it gives them a chance,” he said.
The measure, which also would permit firearms in hospitals and stadiums, is among several under consideration in states including Ohio, Oklahoma and Alabama that would redefine where residents may carry or keep guns.
Sen. Mike Green, sponsor of the bill, told the Detroit News that Snyder wanted language encorporated into the legislation that would allow public schools to ban concealed weapons.
"They told us Thursday night he'd veto it if we didn't include that language," Green told the paper. "We just said 'enough's enough' and we passed it."
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