The first bill to pass a chamber of the state Legislature this year is one of several dealing with firearms. The Michigan Senate approved the legislation Thursday.
The bill would change the state’s definition of a “federally-licensed firearms dealer.”
It's a technical fix, according to supporters of the measure. They say state law isn’t in sync with federal regulations. That means some gun dealers can’t sell certain weapons because of a technicality.
But a handful of Democrats voted against the bill. State Senator Rebekah Warren says it’s really meant to increase the number of gun dealers in Michigan.
“I think it’s a shameful action for us to expand the number of authorized sellers of guns in our state when we haven’t done anything to address the question of citizen safety," says Warren.
The bill now goes to the state House. Other gun bills in Lansing include one to exempt some firearms from federal regulations.