LANSING - In any school system, it is essential that the safety of students is maintained at all times. With that protection comes the controversy regarding whether or not firearms should be allowed inside a school building.

Although schools are considered gun free zones, the current law allows a registered gun holder with a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) to openly carry a firearm into a school, however, bans all concealed weapons.

"So we have people that are going to schools with automatic weapons, parading around making a show out of it and putting our kids at risk," 23rd District State Senator (D) Curtis Hertel Jr. stated.

Recently, there are two proposed bills that would change the current gun law.

"What they're basically doing is trying to trade out the idea that we will ban open carry, but the trade they're trying to offer there is to actually allow for concealed carry," Hertel Jr. mentioned.

Senate bills 442 and 561 have not yet passed in the Senate as of now but if this legislation does pass, gun owners would be required to conceal their firearms.

This proposed legislation has caused mixed reactions from politicians and citizens, including those within the gun carrying community.

"In certain situations, like schools where we have a lot of children present, where there are much fewer adults there, where accidents would be dire…we shouldn't have guns in our schools," Senator Hertel Jr. stated.

Those in law enforcement also shared a similar opinion.

"While I respect the argument to some degree that it may lead to increased safety for the students and faculty, I disagree with that argument…this would cause more problems and lead to more people bringing in more guns to schools and potentially the use of those firearms in that environment than we already have," Lieutenant Greg Frenger of the Meridian Township Police Department said.

Both the Senator and Lieutenant felt strongly in terms of the logic behind firearms being brought into a school as well.

"If you were a school principle and you noticed someone was carrying a gun, how do you know the reason why they're actually carrying a gun?" Hertel Jr. expressed.

Frenger voiced his opinion saying "how do we as law enforcement determine who that person is and whether or not they're able to carry a firearm or possess a firearm legally?"

On the alternative side, some feel gun holders should be allowed to carry their firearms into a school building.

"I think individuals that are properly licensed and properly trained should be able to carry their firearms on the school premises in order to protect the children, themselves, or others in case of a situation such as an active shooter situation," Firearms Instructor/Range Safety Officer of Total Firearms George Motakis stated.

As of right now, the bills in question are awaiting review by the Committee on Judiciary.