Check out this WILX.com story about a group of pistol-toting patrons trying to hold a meeting at the Ponderosa Restaurant last Saturday afternoon. The customers with pistols openly showing in their holsters had legitimate open-carry permits to carry the weapons. Nevertheless, the Lansing Police Department was called to sort out the situation. No arrests were made. Will we be seeing more of this kind of scene locally because of state gun law changes? Here’s a YouTube video taken of the situation by a bystander:
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
FYI, there’s no such thing as an “open-carry permit” in the state of Michigan. Open carry is a RIGHT, not a privilege. In order to carry concealed, you need a Concealed Pistol License.
And my understand is, the “bystander” was actually part of the group.
I echo Al. Open-carry is the default. You can carry a weapon anywhere in the state of Michigan as long as it is not concealed or prohibited there. Private property owners may prohibit it if they choose to do so.
There is no change in state law that brought this about. Open carry has always been legal in Michigan. Also, the police were not called to the scene by management. The people from Ponderosa have said that they just called to check if it was legal. PD showed up of their own volition. Nobody requested their presence.