(Source: MIRS.news, Published 2/27/23) Firearms would be totally banned from the state Capitol and access to the building would be limited during non-business hours under a pair of proposals being formally considered by the Michigan State Capitol Commission.
The Commission approved two motions Monday morning.
The first, brought forward by Senate Business Director Tim Bowlin, requires Executive Director Rob Blackshaw to create an action plan to address security improvements, including the total ban of firearms from the Capitol and its grounds.
Bowlin brought the motion forward after a presentation by Blackshaw, which included recommendations on ways to increase Capitol security. Blackshaw said he was asked by Commission Chair William Kandler to evaluate current security around the Capitol.
His findings followed conversations with House and Senate sergeants, Michigan State Police, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Homeland Security, the Army Corps of Engineers and officials from several other state capitols, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Texas, which had the same designer as Michigan's Capitol.
Blackshaw said "screening processes are not a new idea in state capitols," and capitol buildings, including Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, have firearms bans.
Ohio has a full weapons ban with the exception of police, he said. Indiana has a similar state law banning weapons, with an exception for legislators and judges. Illinois also bans firearms, and Illinois, Indiana and Texas all use x-ray machines or magnetometers to increase security.
His recommendations from his research included investing in new pieces of equipment, like x-rays, magnetometers and pass-through weapons detection systems, which can detect non-metal weapons. Blackshaw also recommended secondary screening areas for individuals who are flagged, and more emergency training for operators.
Bowlin said the motion, which would task Blackshaw with creating an action plan to increase security measures, is a way to take action, not just talk.
Commission Vice Chair Joan Bauer clarified that the motion isn't an immediate ban on all weapons, "though we'd like to do it," as the plan would require legislative appropriation.
She said as soon as the Commission gets a plan in place, they'll take the recommendations and move forward.
Bauer brought forth the second motion, which she said is an example of something that can be done in the meantime. Under her motion, all swipe access to the Capitol is disabled outside of business hours, except for the east entrance, which is manned by state police.
The motion applies to legislators and staff, she said.
It also directs that staff schedule events in Heritage Hall only during business hours, and recommends that the House and Senate post sergeants at chamber entrances during hours when swipe cards are activated.
Blackshaw included the access limitation in his list of recommendations before the Commission, adding that he believes it will increase the level of security.
He cited Indiana's Capitol security, who said their biggest security concern is piggybacking at access points, where one person has access to an area and another says, "Hold the door, I wanna come in with you."
Sometimes they also have access, but sometimes they don't, he said.
Following the motion's passage, Bowlin spoke on behalf of the Senate and said he will make sure people are informed and have the proper time to plan.
He said he thinks people will welcome the changes, "because they're going to understand it's for their own security."
The motions both passed unanimously, 5-0, with no one stepping forward during the public comment period.
The Commission is set to meet again on April 3 and May 15.
