"For the past several years, the township has technically been in violation of a state law that prevents local jurisdictions from enacting stricter gun controls. They banned guns from the trail."
http://wincountry.com/news/articles/2016/aug/09/kalamazoo-township-adjust-gun-rule-on-trails/
Translation: For the past 26 years, the township has openly violated both the language and the legislative intent of Michigan's preemption law. ("technically in violation", ha!)"Trustee Pamela Goodacre was the lone dissenter. She said allowing guns will not improve the safety of the trails. But they really didn’t have a lot of choice."
They can choose to obey the law or violate the law. Goodacre chose the latter.