LANSING, MI - Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed a bill that would have allowed concealed guns in schools in 2012, and a rekindled discussion on it hasn't changed his position.
The Michigan Senate on Wednesday passed legislation to allow people to carry concealed weapons in traditionally gun-free zones like bars, stadiums and schools.
Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, has noted there are differences between what went to the governor in 2012 and what the Senate passed Wednesday.
But the governor said he didn't see any real change from what he already vetoed.
"I haven't really changed my position. I'm always open to talking about topics and I always look at bills as they come to my desk. But again, I don't see any real change from where we were," Snyder said.
It's broken up into three bills in the latest version, instead of the previous single bill. And the new version makes allowances for school districts to ban students and employees from carrying.
But a lot is the same - both the 2012 bill and the 2017 one would allow somebody with eight extra hours of training to carry concealed in normally gun-free zones, and get rid of the open carry in those zones now.
In his 2012 veto, Snyder objected specifically to a lack of local decision-making when it came to where concealed weapons would be allowed.
"Unfortunately, the bill did not allow public schools, day care centers, or public hospitals to prohibit persons for carrying concealed weapons on their premises. For that reason, I am vetoing Senate Bill 59," Snyder wrote in 2012.
"I believe that it is important that these public institutions have clear legal authority to ban weapons on their premises."
That remains true in the current bills. It's what the lone Republican to vote against the, Sen. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, cited as cementing his decision to vote against them. He said there were regional differences on carry that the legislation didn't reflect, and locals should be allowed input.
"Some would choose to exercise that option; some would not. But it would be a local decision, not a Lansing decision."
Meekhof said after the bills passed the Senate on Wednesday he'd had conversations with the governor in the past few days, but not gotten specific on changes that might get the governor on board. He's not open to many changes, he said.
"I've got a little work to do with the governor, but there's a reason my name's on the bill," Meekhof said.
Asked if he'd veto the bills if they were on his desk, Snyder said he'd have similar issues.
"There are several bills as part of that package, and again, I haven't had a chance to read the specific bills but I did veto a bill that was similar to it several years ago. If it was that same bill, I would have the same set of issues in that form," Snyder said.