State Rep. Bob Bezotte, R-Marion Township, is one of 12 Republican lawmakers aiming to make the AR-15 semi-automatic firearm Michigan’s state rifle.
Bezotte, former sheriff of Livingston County, joins state Rep. Brian BeGole, former sheriff of Shiawassee County (who introduced the bill on June 6), and 10 other Republicans in sponsoring HB-5792, which seeks to recognize and potentially promote the firearm’s use and significance within the state.
“Millions of people across the country and thousands in Michigan own an AR-15. This distinction recognizes these law-abiding gun owners who are often vilified just for having a firearm as a hobbyist or to keep their homes and families safe,” BeGole said in a release about the proposed legislation, in which he pointed out what he called the “practicality, versatility and reliable track record” of the firearm.
“More and more often, AR-15 owners are ostracized and criticized for their perfectly reasonable and legal decisions to possess a firearm,” BeGole said in the release. “That’s just not right.”
BeGole also referenced that this bill would help halt future legislation limiting gun use. Last year, Michigan passed four major laws that limited gun access, including safe storage and background check requirements.
It’s a move that concerns gun control advocates.
Ryan Bates, executive director of End Gun Violence Michigan, told Michigan Advance that the bill supports a trend of “extremist” politicians militarizing gun culture in the state.
“We have to understand this as part and parcel of threats to our democracy by extremists,” Bates said. “…This sort of symbol is an attempt to make our political discourse and debate not about how we’re going to make people’s lives better or improve our state but about threats and violence.”
Bates said it was important to distinguish people who use guns for protection or hunting, and people who use AR-15s, which can kill a large number of people quickly. AR-15s have become a threatening symbol from the far-right, Bates said in the Michigan Advance story, and people working in politics or elections have been intimidated by these weapons in the last few years. Bates pointed out the example of the Jan. 6 insurrection and safety fears for poll workers.
“They are, one, trying to normalize the presence of military grade hardware in our society,” Bates said. “That’s why you see things like open carry. And two, they are trying to militarize politics. That’s what this is about, and you cannot have a functioning democracy at the barrel of a gun.”
BeGole said nine other states have designated their own state rifles; Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.
It is unlikely the proposed legislation would make Michigan the 10th, as it would need to fight through a Democratic-controlled House, Senate and governor’s desk. The bill was introduced June 6 and assigned to the House Government Operations Committee, normally a repository for legislation with little chance of success.
In addition to Bezotte and BeGole, the following Republican state representatives are also sponsors of the bill: Gregory Alexander, District 98; Joseph Aragona, District 60; Jay DeBoyer, District 63; Mike Harris, District 52; Tom Kunse, District 100; Pat Outman, District 91; Dave Prestin, District 108; Angela Rigas, District 79; Rachelle Smith, District 43; and Jamie Thompson, District 28.
With reporting from Michigan Advance.
