After some law enforcement officials in Michigan said they wouldn’t enforce the ban on openly carrying guns near polling places on election day, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Tuesday she expects most will. Benson declared the ban after authorities thwarted a plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and storm the State Capitol.
The directive states that no one may openly carry a firearm within 100 feet of a polling place, clerk's office or absentee ballot counting box as a way of preventing voter suppression on election day.
However, gun rights advocates filed two lawsuits last week challenging Benson’s authority to ban open carrying guns at polling places, while some Michigan sheriffs stated publicly earlier this week, that they would not enforce the ban.
Benson told WGVU on Tuesday however, she expects that most law enforcement agencies across the state will.
“The directive makes it clear, the responsibilities of clerks and law enforcement to protect every voter, that said, I expect many law enforcement agencies will enforce and protect voters, and enforce the regulation and guidance, as well as the Michigan State Police,” Benson said. “And we are continuing to work with law enforcement if the get a call from a poll worker indicating that voter intimidation is occurring at the polls,” she said.
Meanwhile, a Michigan Court of Claims judge is currently gathering written arguments from both sides. The election is this Tuesday.
