Michigan: HB 4714 stalls in committee

Update 2012: This bill is dead.

Michigan HB 4714, a bill that proposes to ban “pit bulls” statewide, has hit a snag.

News article links:
Unleashed: Why Michigan lawmakers won’t ban pit bulls
Proposed Michigan Pit Bull Ban Apparently DOA
Michigan House panel puts the brakes on proposed pit bull ban (check out the awful photo they used for this article)

The chair of the Regulatory Reform committee, Rep. Hugh Crawford, has stated that he does not intend to schedule this bill for a hearing—at least, not in the summer session. This is a good sign, because bills without committee support tend to die.

However, do not consider the bill to be “dead.” Rep. Bledsoe has expressed disappointment that the bill will not be heard; and Rep. Crawford has declined to say that it will “never” be heard, only that he does not intend to hear it now. It is entirely possible for this bill to be revived down the line.

Michigan residents, please take this opportunity to “meet and greet” your legislators, educate them, and put a human (and canine) face on this issue, so that they will remember you in the future.

Find and contact your Michigan Representatives: http://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/

Contact bill author Rep. Timothy Bledsoe:
TimBledsoe@house.mi.gov
Office Address: S585 House Office Building
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 30014, Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Phone: (517) 373-0154
Toll-Free:(888) 254-5291
Fax: (517) 373-6094
Webpage with contact form: http://001.housedems.com/

Read the bill here: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billintroduced/House/htm/2011-HIB-4714.htm

Tracking page for HB 4714:  http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(44ghvauhqqnqzc55ztl2iz2p))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2011-HB-4714