Rep. Lyons offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 62. 

            A resolution to memorialize Congress to oppose and reject any legislation that would ban assault weapons.

            Whereas, Article I, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution, clearly affirms a right to keep and bear arms. This provision prescribes that the primary purpose of the right to keep and bear arms is not related solely to hunting, but clearly allows Michigan citizen's to be able to protect one's self and family from the private lawlessness of other persons or potential tyranny of governments; and

            Whereas, The Tenth Amendment guarantees to the states and their people all powers not granted to the federal government elsewhere in the United States Constitution. The federal government cannot contradict those portions of Michigan's firearms law that are clearly under direct state control; and

            Whereas, Legislation proposed in the United States Senate would adopt a new definition of "assault weapon" that would affect a much larger variety of firearms, require current owners of such firearms to register them with the federal government, and require forfeiture of the firearms upon the deaths of their current owners. The proposed legislation oversteps the bounds of both the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Michigan's sovereign constitution, and Michigan's firearms law; and

            Whereas, The proposed legislation is more sweeping and restrictive than the 1994 federal assault weapons ban. However, experience has taught us that the 1994 ban was not effective in reducing or preventing gun violence. Since the ban expired, more Americans now own weapons that would be classified as assault weapons. Yet the nation's total violent crime and murder rates have fallen to 37-year and 47-year lows, respectively; and

            Whereas, Weapons that were classified as "assault weapons" by the 1994 ban have never been used in more than a small percentage of crime. In addition, while some semi-automatic firearms may look like military firearms, not one of them banned by the federal government in 1994 was designed for or used by military forces.  Attributes given to "assault weapons" in the 1994 ban – semi-automatic, detachable magazine, and two or more external attachments such as a pistol-type grip and telescoping stock – are attributes common to millions of firearms that have never been defined as "assault weapons"; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize Congress to oppose and reject any legislation that would ban assault weapons; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.