Poll: Should People be Allowed to Openly Carry Weapons in Michigan?

A deadly shooting early Friday during a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" at a movie theater in Colorado has spurred debate about whether stricter gun laws could have prevented the tragedy.

Some gun rights advocates argue that had a member of the audience been carrying a weapon, they could have used it to stop the shooter; advocates of more stringent gun rules, however, say more weapons lead to more chaos and ensuring public safety should be left to law enforcement.

Adults are legally permitted to carry and conceal registered pistols and rifles under Michigan law and aren't required to show ID to police. Municipalities aren't allowed to regulate the possession of firearms; but, according to state law MCL 750.234d, there are certain exceptions when firearms are not allowed. These include:

• Churches
• Courts
• Theaters
• Sports arenas
• Day care centers
• Hospitals
• Establishments licensed under the Michigan Liquor Control Act

However, according to MCL 28.425o, a person with a Concealed Pistol License may, with the property owner's permission, open or conceal carry a firearm into an entertainment facility that has a seating capacity of fewer than 2,500. If the entertainment facility has a seating capacity over 2,500, the CPL holder may not carry a firearm concealed, but may openly carry a firearm, with the property owner's permission.

Should people be allowed to carry and conceal weapons in Michigan? Take our poll.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect a clarification regarding Michigan's open carry laws as they apply to an entertainment facility, such as a movie theater.