Staff Reports
In the latest twist-of-the-dagger development from Michigan, it seems the Republicans have done the unthinkable: proposed a state symbol that actually triggers the left. A group of 12 GOP lawmakers is pushing to designate the AR-15 as the official state gun of the Great Lakes State. Predictably, Democrats and the usual suspects are hyperventilating over this audacious proposal.
Naturally, the hand-wringing commenced with Democratic state Rep. Christine Morse, who trotted out the customary parade of horribles, citing recent shootings as reasons to not adopt the AR-15 as a state symbol. Morse lamented over the potential embarrassment, clearly aiming more for melodrama than substantive debate.
Republican lawmakers in Michigan propose AR-15 as state gun https://t.co/86yz90Mdb7
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) June 20, 2024
On the flip side, Republican Rep. Brian BeGole, the bill’s sponsor, highlighted the stigma faced by AR-15 owners. BeGole pointed out how gun owners are increasingly ostracized for exercising their legal rights, emphasizing that owning an AR-15 is as American as apple pie – a sentiment that likely resonates with the state’s numerous law-abiding gun enthusiasts.
It’s worth noting that Michigan wouldn’t be breaking new ground with this proposal; 10 other states have already cemented their state gun status. Missouri, the rebel soul, recently added the Hawken Rifle to their list of state symbols, so it’s not exactly uncharted territory to pick a firearm for state pride. Critics bleat about the lack of direct ties between the AR-15 and Michigan, as though state symbols must pass some obscure historical test. The same folks would probably clutch their pearls at the notion of the AR-15, a modern symbol of American self-reliance, stepping into the spotlight.
Michigan teetered as the arsenal of democracy during WWII, producing enough weaponry to make Uncle Sam blush. One would think self-respecting Michiganders could tip their hat to their industrial contributions to America’s firepower legacy, yet some like William Adams propose sticking to archaic ‘historical’ choices, completely overlooking the vibrancy of modern American armament culture.
However, with the state’s government firmly in Democratic hands, odds are the bill will gather dust. Adding a layer of irony, the proposal landed on June 7, which a gleeful Governor Whitmer proclaimed as Gun Violence Awareness Day. It’s almost as though Republicans wanted to underscore just how out-of-touch the left is with the hardworking, gun-owning citizens of Michigan.
