Paul Opsommer

Vice Chair, House Transportation Committee

District 93, Dewitt

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OPSOMMER TO INTRODUCE "FIREARM OWNERSHIP EMPLOYEE PROTECTION ACT"

August 17, 2009

State Rep. Paul Opsommer announced today that he will be introducing a firearm ownership protection package, a group of bills designed to ensure that Michigan citizens who lawfully own firearms are not discriminated against in the hiring process or end up being fired because they are simply exercising their 2nd Amendment Rights.

"Unless firearm ownership is directly related to an established and bona fide occupational requirement for the job there is no reason for an employer to ask questions about whether a potential employee owns or knows how to use a gun", said Opsommer. "We also need to ensure that employers can not create over-reaching company policies that violate the Constitution and provide an excuse to terminate employees whose political views differ from those of management. People who lawfully own firearms and are following appropriate storage laws should not lose the ability to transport them in privately owned vehicles."

Such laws have been passed as recently as July in the case of Arizona, and have been passed in ten total states such as Florida and Oklahoma. The law was upheld there by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit after Oklahoma first passed it in response to a dozen employees being fired from their jobs at the Weyerhaeuser paper mill.

"A person who legally owns a firearm needs to have a way to store it as they are going to and from work, home, hunting, or any other lawful purpose", said Opsommer. "People shouldn't have to feel that their cars are going to be searched just because they told their boss they are going hunting after work."

Rep. Opsommer expects the bills to be introduced this week.

Legislation introduced to prohibit residential transfer fees, limit foreclosure recovery costs

Opsommer criticizes the stalling of Michigan's legislation

Opsommer warns against state-created monopolies

State Rep. Paul Opsommer, R-DeWitt, today questioned a new plan to increase state coffers by reducing the number of legally authorized liquor distributors in the state down to one, a move that would in effect create a state-sanctioned monopoly.

HJR A should have been part of budget solution

State Representative Paul Opsommer joined legislative colleagues at the Capitol today in an effort to jumpstart stalled budget talks. Opsommer also used the press conference to discuss the need for legislation such as HJR A that would have helped ensure future budgets are completed in a more timely manner.

Opsommer to introduce statutory version of HJR YY to affirm 10th Amendment and to protect against illegal memorandums of agreement

State Rep. Paul Opsommer (R-DeWitt) announced today that with HJR YY and SJR Y not making it onto the ballot that he would be introducing a statutory version of the federalism bills as a backup to keep the issue moving.

NEW SUPREME COURT RULING EXPANDS UPON HELLER BUT SHOWS 2nd AMENDMENT RIGHTS STILL TENUOUS

Two years ago the Supreme Court ruled that the 2nd Amendment is an individual and not a collective right, holding that "the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm, unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home."

MUCC CATCHES 30 FISH SPECIES IN 30 HOURS TO HELP HIGHLIGHT IMMINENT CARP DANGER

State Rep. Paul Opsommer congratulated the Michigan United Conservation Clubs for successfully completing their goal of catching 30 fish species in 30 days as a way to draw attention to the danger of Asian Carp to Michigan's fisheries. Unfortunately, other breaking news is also highlighting why such efforts are so badly needed.

'Cottage food' bill one step closer to reality

The Michigan House of Representatives recently passed legislation that will help protect small producers of certain baked goods and other products like jams and jellies from excessive regulation. The series of bills is now headed to the Senate.

HB 4961: The DRIC and outsourced information

State Representative Paul Opsommer (R-DeWitt) announced today that he has been forced to write another letter to Canadian Transportation Minister Baird seeking answers to important questions concerning the DRIC, all because MDOT has been unwilling to provide it's own legislature with the information it needs in order to make a decision regarding HB 4961.

Opsommer balks at ceding of state sovereignty, will introduce ballot measure

In response to a bill recently passed out of the House that would allow for the governments of other states and countries to partially control transportation projects in MI, State Rep. Paul Opsommer (R-DeWitt) announced today that he would be offering a ballot proposal that would ensure only Michigan entities would control Michigan's toll roads or bridges.

National Healthcare rolling along in MI

On Tuesday the House Committee on Health Policy started taking testimony on national health insurance and Michigan's role in implementing it through state run "exchanges". The mandate for the exchanges have been criticized for being unconstitutional if they are used as a mechanism to force taxpayers to buy healthcare insurance against their will.

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