Rep. Rick Jones offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 391.
A resolution to urge the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to allow its law enforcement personnel to carry stun guns.
Whereas, Stun guns, also commonly known as "tasers," are devices or weapons designed to stun or temporarily immobilize a person by delivering an electric shock. Currently, certain authorized persons such as peace officers, corrections officers, court officers, and licensed private investigators, among others, are authorized to carry and use stun guns. The understanding is that these persons have been trained in the use, effects, and risks related to these weapons; and
Whereas, Stun guns provide law enforcement officers with greater flexibility in diffusing potentially dangerous situations. Because stun guns are designed to temporarily incapacitate a person, law enforcement officers are able to use them to disable and apprehend dangerous and aggressive persons while avoiding the use of lethal force. Stun guns provide officers another option to prevent further escalation of force while still controlling and containing dangerous situations; and
Whereas, DNR's law enforcement personnel often carry out their duties in rural areas dealing with armed citizens and a wide range of potentially hazardous law enforcement functions. Along with their conservation duties, DNR personnel also support and assist other state and local law enforcement in a variety of domestic, traffic and public safety situations. These responsibilities can include apprehending criminal suspects. DNR officers should be given additional less-than-lethal options to deal with dangerous situations; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to allow its law enforcement personnel to carry stun guns; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Department of Natural Resources.