July 27, 2018 – The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that the Ann Arbor and Clio school districts have a right to ban guns from their schools
In a very much watched case that deals a blow to gun rights advocates who argued state law prohibits schools from enacting those policies.
Both districts had adopted the policies that barred the possession of guns on school property or at a school-sponsored event.
They each were sued by different groups. One was Michigan Gun Owners with parent Ulysses Wong, sued the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Michigan Open Carry with parent Kenneth Herman filed suit against the Clio Area Schools.
On Friday July 27, 2018, The 4-3 ruling upheld a 2016 ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals which came to the same conclusion.
Jim Makowski, the attorney for Michigan Gun Owners and Wong, said the decision saddens him because he believes it will do nothing to improve school safety.
“Now criminals can be confident that most school districts are not going to allow firearms on property,” Makowski said. “Now we’ve just created a whole bunch of soft targets that are not going to be protected by an individual with a firearm.”
“Safety is our first and our primary duty, even before our critical mission of teaching and learning,” said Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Jeanice Swift:.
That’s why the district, and its board, pushed the policy.
