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July 18, 2012 VIA REGULAR MAIL Senator John Pappageorge P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909-7536 Representative Chuck Moss 351 Capitol Building P.O. Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909 Re: Baldwin Public Librarys Position on Michigans Open Carrying Law

Senator Pappageorge & Representative Moss: On June 11, 2012, several individuals, accompanied by a film crew, entered the Baldwin Public Library (Baldwin) openly carrying weapons. These individuals presence inflicted fear in some of Baldwins staff, disrupting their work and adversely affecting Baldwins efforts to foster an atmosphere conducive to constructive library usage. In response to the individuals presence, Baldwins staff completed an Incident Report, which is attached to this letter. Unfortunately however, Baldwin is hamstrung from further trying to prevent individuals from openly carrying guns (including into the Youth Room, Teen Room and Restrooms) at the Library because of MCL 123.1102 and MCL 750.234d, which, respectively, preclude a local government from banning the possession of pistols and exclude libraries from the list of places where the possession of a firearm is unlawful. The Baldwin Public Library Board (Board) requests the Legislature to change the law to include libraries amongst places where citizens are precluded from carrying weapons. In particular, we request that you, our representatives in Lansing, to either introduce legislation in favor of this position or support past or pending legislation which has the same effect. The Board believes a change in state law would greatly reduce the risk of a tragic accident at Baldwin, help foster a healthier environment for library usage, eliminate the chance that citizens would be afraid to enter the library and lower security costs. Moreover, existing state law is patently inconsistent with the Librarys Code of Conduct policy which precludes disruptive behavior and anything

Baldwin Public Library

300 West Merrill Street Birmingham, MI 48009 v: 248-647-1700 f: 248-647-6393

which interferes with staffs performance of [their] duties. Finally, the Beverly Hills Village Council, Baldwins largest contracting community, plans to address this issue at its next meeting.1 We hope to be able to further address this issue with you in the near future. We thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, Andrew Harris Library Board President Enclosures cc: Governor, Rick Snyder (via regular mail w/enclosures) Mark Nikita, Mayor of Birmingham (via regular mail w/enclosures) Sarah H. McClure, Mayor of Birmingham (via regular mail w/enclosures) Delores Tripp, Bingham Farms Council President (via regular mail w/enclosures) Rosanne Koss, Village of Beverly Hills Board President (via regular mail w/enclosures) David Potts (via regular mail w/enclosures) Michael McCready (via regular mail w/enclosures) Robert Lawrence (via regular mail w/enclosures) David Wolkinson (via regular mail w/enclosures) Dorian Coston (via regular mail w/enclosures) Timothy C. Sulowski (via regular mail w/enclosures) Jennifer Mariene Franklin (via regular mail w/enclosures) Rudy Hobbs (via regular mail w/enclosures) Charles Roddis (via regular mail w/enclosures) Howard Worthy (via regular mail w/enclosures)

Baldwins additional contract communities are the City of Bloomfield Hills and the Village of Bingham Farms. Baldwin Public Library
300 West Merrill Street Birmingham, MI 48009 v: 248-647-1700 f: 248-647-6393