MI Lawmakers Consider Legalizing Stun Guns, But Is Training Required?

When it comes to self-defense, guns are the best tools for the job. However, they’re not tools for everyone.

What I mean by that is not everyone is comfortable with a firearm. Some are just scared of guns. Others aren’t sure they can pull the trigger and take a human life. Still others may have any of a myriad of other reasons not to carry a gun.

Advertisement

For those people, less lethal options are kind of ideal.

The problem is that is, those options are illegal in many states for whatever reason.

Currently, Michigan is considering changing a bit of that, but now questions have arisen as to whether training should be required.

Michigan’s current law only allows law enforcement and those with a concealed pistol license to use a taser.

Self-defense experts said there is a lot that needs to be determined in this plan including the difference between a taser, and a stun gun.

“I think it’s a great stepping stone, as a trainer and security expert I train a lot of people in self-defense,” said Henry Reyna, security expert.

Reyna said that if the new bill passes, he hopes some form of training comes along with it.

“I know there’s a lot of interest and a lot of voters probably want to see this bill passed. It all comes down to the training, just so that they’re not going off half-cocked and not really truly understanding what’s reasonable and what’s not reasonable,” Reyna said.

I always roll my eyes a bit when someone who makes a living as a trainer says that training should be required. After all, this is someone who stands to benefit from the law…if there’s a training requirement in place he can cash in on.

Now, I’m not saying Reyna is like that. I don’t know the guy so I couldn’t say.

I am saying, though, that I’m skeptical of anyone’s motivations regarding a law–particular one that infringes on someone’s G0d-given right to defend themselves–when they stand to profit from it.

Advertisement

Frankly, no training requirement should be put in place. The right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental human right. No training should be required to exercise a fundamental human right. And make no mistake here, stun guns and tasers are arms. They’re not intended to be lethal, but they’re still weapons and still useful for self-defense, hence why training shouldn’t be required.

My hope is that Michigan passes the bill legalizing these for everyone and does so in such a way that both stun guns and tasers are legal and without any training requirement. While I’d still urge people to get training and to read up on self-defense laws to make sure they’re not misusing these tools, I don’t want to see more barriers to self-defense.

As it is, it’s expensive for poor individuals to exercise this right as it stands. The last thing we should do in any state is to put it completely out of reach.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Sponsored