LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Rick Outman on Thursday issued the following statement regarding his opposition of partisan, overreaching legislation to restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners:
“These unconstitutional bills are yet another example of self-congratulatory policy that will not yield real world results from this majority.
“They fly in the face of not only our Second Amendment rights and the right to self-defense, but our traditions as Michiganders. The proposed red flag laws also violate our nation’s dearest concepts and values: The right to due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
“I even supported amendments to ensure the right to legal counsel for anyone at risk of having their guns taken from them under these laws and strengthen the burden of proof before the government willfully violates an individual’s Second Amendment rights. To no surprise, these were voted down by the Democratic majority.
“These bills create more hoops for law-abiding Michiganders to jump through while doing nothing to address the root causes of criminal behavior. Democrats have once again put the onus on the backs of residents while allowing criminals to maintain their status quo and ideological prosecutors to continue handing out ‘slap-on-the-wrist’ punishments.
“I’m both ashamed and appalled with which this majority so comfortably discarded our rights as Michiganders and as Americans.”
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