LANSING, Mich. — School kids and lawmakers in Lansing will soon be greeted by a security check when they enter the Michigan Statehouse, as a new policy is set to go into effect in the coming months.
After years of debate over Capitol security measures, the Michigan State Capitol Commission is preparing to install pass-through technology, a weapons detection system, at the main, eastern entrance to the downtown Lansing building.
“The Capitol building’s been wide open,” said Michigan State Capitol Commission chair Bill Kandler. “It’s the least secure building in state government right now.”
The Michigan State Capitol Commission is primarily in charge of overseeing restoration and preservation projects within the historic 145-year-old building, but Kandler says the commission has also been tasked with security measures in the building.
For buildings in the state capital housing the governor’s office, state agencies, or the House and Senate offices, there is some level of security, from sergeants on guard to metal detectors, that is required before entering. While the state Capitol has security measures in place, many have only been implemented in recent months or years.
“As much as I do not like the idea of having to limit access to the building, we know the reality of the world today is that we have to do it, we have to keep people safe,” said Kandler.
Kandler, who was voted into his role in December 2022, said the frequency of political violence around the country had pushed the nonpartisan commission to respond accordingly.
The weapons detection system, which Kandler said would be manned by the Michigan State Police, is expected to be able to go beyond a regular metal detector device.
“It can detect any kind of like a plastic gun, something made with a printer, all kinds of weapons that can be detected beyond metal,” he said.
Legislators and staff will continue to use swipe cards at the locked north and south entrances, and sergeants will continue to be stationed inside to ensure the correctly-credentialed people are using those entrances.
A security official is already stationed at the entrance to the western entrance, Heritage Hall, where many school children on third and fourth grade field trips start their tours.
Legislators will be unable to carry firearms in the Capitol, Kandler said, if the commission finalizes a proposed policy. Only law enforcement within the Statehouse would be armed.
“We’ve consulted quite a bit with state police, the sergeants and others, security experts, and the feeling is, you can’t really be safe if you have a lot of guns in the building,” said Kandler.
The security plan is one that some serving in the legislature aren’t comfortable with.
“It’s totally, totally uncalled for, and it just doesn’t make sense,” said House Minority Floor Leader Bryan Posthumus, R-Cannon Township.
Michigan lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have received threats over their policies, and some have responded by buying and training on firearms. Posthumus says he knows some coworkers who have taken the latter approach.
“Now, that trained and licensed person is unable to carry a firearm and unable to help keep that member of the legislature safe,” he said.
The Capitol Commission has already cracked down on the use of firearms within the Capitol’s walls, banning open carry in 2021.
Concealed carry weapons have been allowed, and armed rallies have frequently been held on the Capitol lawn.
The commission hopes to have the weapons detection technology up and running by Labor Day, Kandler said.
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