LANSING, Mich. -- New legislation introduced by Michigan Democrats seeks to make it a felony to own weapons defined as assault weapons.
State Rep. Robert Wittenberg, D-Oak Park, presented the bill Wednesday with support from Rep. Jim Townsend, D - Royal Oak. Neither was available to make a comment.
If passed, House Bill 5996, or the "Assault Weapon Regulation Act," would turn the manufacturing, purchasing, possessing, selling and transferring of "assault weapons" into a four-year felony. It's one of nine bills introduced Wednesday aimed at reducing gun violence.
But gun advocates tell FOX 17 they believe it's a political stunt.
"We’re 22 months into a 24-month legislative session," said Tom Lambert, a gun advocate for Michigan Open Carry. "I think it’s, what, three weeks till the election? I think everyone can piece together why they are suddenly coming out right now."
The bill defines an assault weapon as a semiautomatic pistol or semiautomatic or pump-action rifle capable of using detachable magazines, trigger pistol grips, shoulder stocks, barrel shrouds, muzzle brakes or commentators, and shotguns with detachable magazines or revolving cylinders.
"What it means is to ban common things that help people handle guns safely," Lambert said. "Why would we ban things that make handling guns safer?"
There are some exceptions for people who owned an assault weapon before the proposed law's effective date, including annual registration with state police.
