Schools Cancel Tours As Gun Owners Rally At State Capitol

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Multiple schools canceled field trips to the state capitol as hundreds of gun owners rallied outside to remind lawmakers of their right to bear arms.

"When state officials found out that the gun folks were going to be here, they notified the schools and seven of them decided to scrub the tours," reported Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick. "So they were no shows, but about 200 to 300 pro-gun demonstrators were here ..."

Some of the people freely and legally carried guns at Wednesday's rally. Others held pro-Second Amendment signs.

Open-carry advocates and other organizers oppose a proposed federal assault-weapons ban, though that provision was pulled by Democrats from gun-control legislation Wednesday. While the Republican-led Legislature is unlikely to pass any gun-control bills, gun rights groups say they want to keep hammering home their opposition in Lansing.

Some Democrats have proposed ending the ability of concealed weapons permit holders to openly carry guns in Michigan schools, including Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing, who introduced legislation last week.

It's currently legal to openly carry  in schools, hospitals, sports arenas and other gun-free zones. But it is illegal to carry concealed weapons in those places.

"A gun-free zone is not truly gun-free," said Schor, at a news conference."As a gun owner, I recognize the importance of the Second Amendment. But in this case, allowing openly armed civilians to roam the halls of our schools is a recipe for disaster."

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