Michael Beoglin, The Need For Michael’s Law, and a Pushback From an Unexpected Source

In June of 2014, a young truck driver was delivering a load to the west side fo Detroit, Michigan. When he arrived at the receiver, he was turned away because the company was preparing to shut down for the night, and they would not allow trucks to park on their property, where they would be safe with security on hand, so this young driver did what he had to, to find a place to spend the night.

Sometime around 1 o’clock in the morning, shots were fired, and an hour later, someone in the neighborhood saw a truck on fire and called the fire in to authorities. When police and fire arrived, and put the fire out, they found what was left of young Michael Boeglin in his rig. With several shell casing found near the truck, police surmised that Michael had been shot, prior to the truck being set on fire. His killer has yet to be found, if any clues have been found as to who those clues may lead to, no word has been heard. In his death, Michael had left behind a pregnant wife, and a young marriage.

So the Small Business in Transportation Coalition stepped in to present a bill to Congress.

From Guns.com

The move, termed “Mike’s Law” with the blessing of the wife of murdered driver Mike Boeglin, is backed by the Small Business in Transportation Coalition. It would establish a federal program so truckers can carry firearms for personal and load protection nationwide regardless of state and local regulation.

“Once an American citizen leaves his home state and engages in ‘interstate commerce,’ his ability to carry a firearm and guard the shipment is at the mercy of other states that may or may not choose to grant reciprocity to their home state,” explains SBTC Chairman James Lamb in a Change.org petition backing the proposed new law.

Lamb argues that commercial drivers do not have the same protections others in the workforce, as they often cannot return to their homes every night. This, the group contends, should warrant an exception under the Interstate Commerce clause and in the spirit of the Second Amendment for truckers to be able carry across state lines while on the job. The solution to this would be a proposed Federal Business Concealed Carry Firearms Permit Program in which commercial drivers could apply to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for a license to allow carry anywhere in the country.

Currently the U.S. Department of Transportation defaults to local laws regarding possession of firearms in commercial motor vehicles, which is open to much interpretation.

 

In the beginning, many in congress were in agreement that something needed to be done, and even the NRA (National Rifle Association) agreed and were supportive of the idea. But within the last few months, the NRA has made a complete reverse, and, according to congressional staffers close to Marco Rubio, the NRA has suddenly stepped in requesting that congress not support this bill. With little explanation being given, and no responses to e-mail requests, or responses from the NRA’s Facebook page. Only recently, the NRA posted a video now saying that they are in favor of Mike’s Law, but only half heartedly.

If the NRA will back off, and fully support Mike’s Law, and allow the process to run it’s course, I am in strong belief that this will stand up to Constitutional muster under the guidelines that it is written under. And if the NRA then wants their bill to move forward, then they could follow under the same pre-empts and have their version of a nationwide reciprocity bill (which calls for nationwide recognition of the concealed carry licenses of all individuals in the United States, from state-to-state, and in all communities. But in it’s current form, I believe that their bill would not stand constitutional muster, based on the 10^th amendment and the fight that anti gun states could raise.

If Mike’s Law is allowed to move forward, and the NRA agrees to back off and no longer do anything to hold it back, then truckers and those engaged in Interstate Commerce would have the right to hold a concealed carry permit allowing for their personal protection, the the protection of the loads they are held to safeguard and transport across country and from city to city.

 

I am encouraging that anyone who supports the idea of such a bill, contact your state representative in Congress and the Senate, and urge them to step up and support this bill, regardless of the NRA’s push. And that anyone who holds a membership with the NRA, contact your local NRA representative and urge them to step back and either let the bill move forward, support the bill, and if you feel it is necessary, then let them know that you would be willing to withdraw your membership in protest.

 

Every family deserves the right to have their loved ones come home safe, and to have the right to defend themselves from any threat that might cost them their life, while in the performance of their jobs while away from home, no matter how far away they may be.

Also, a Go Fund Me has been set up for Michael’s wife, Ashley, and their child, to help support their needs, and complete the updates to their home since their loss, with a goal of $50,000.00 to be raised. I encourage you to also help them out as well, by going to; https://www.gofundme.com/aucbr0

 

Hal Kiah

Co-founder, North American Trucking Alerts

Founder, North American Trucker Alerts

Former co-founder Missing Truck Driver Alert Network