As passed by the Michigan Legislature, the bill would take away the discretion now exercised by the local licensing boards, which consist of a local sheriff, a county prosecutor and a designee of the state police.

In a letter to Engler urging a veto, Levin wrote: "Law enforcement officers, who undergo an initial 72 hours of firearms training as well as annual retraining, have warned that allowing thousands more private citizens to carry concealed handguns would pose significant threats to public safety. It is unrealistic to expect citizens with a fraction of the training to demonstrate the same precautions and the same judgment as police officers. There is no justification for making the already difficult and dangerous job of an officer even more difficult and dangerous by increasing the number of concealed handguns on the streets." -- Donald H. Harrison