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SOS Jocelyn Benson speaks following judge's ruling on open carry ban at polls

Posted at 7:12 PM, Oct 27, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-27 19:19:15-04

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson spoke just hours after a judge shot down a ban on open carry guns at polling locations on Election Day.

Benson announced the ban in mid-October, prompting questions from local law enforcement agencies on how the ban would be enforced.

A lawsuit challenging the ban followed.

RELATED: Lawsuit to be filed Thursday to stop the ban on open carry of guns at the polls

Attorney Dean Greenblatt told 7 Action News this is similar to the constitutional and separation of powers legal challenge that went all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court over Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's COVID-19 executive orders.

Tuesday evening, it was announced that Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray issued a preliminary injunction that stops the ban on open carry guns at the polls.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel responded to the ruling saying she will take the case to the Court of Appeals:

"We intend to immediately appeal the judge’s decision as this issue is of significant public interest and importance to our election process."