Effective February 13, 2024

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Updated Firearm storage laws

Public Acts 16 & 17 of 2023

Persons leaving a firearm unattended on property under their control knowing a minor may be present are now required to:

• Store firearm in a locked box or locked container, or

• Keep firearm unloaded and locked with a trigger lock.

Persons leaving or storing a firearm unattended on someone else’s property knowing a minor may be present are now required to:

• Store firearm in a locked box or locked container, or

• Keep firearm unloaded and trigger locked, or

• Store firearm in a locked motor vehicle, either inside a locked box or container, or trigger locked.

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Updated Background checks

Public Acts 18 & 19 of 2023

A citizen purchasing any type of firearm, not just a handgun, must have a background check related to a firearm purchase, including:

• Long guns (including AR Style)
• Shot guns
• Handguns

Long guns purchased before the law went into effect are grandfathered in.

Lending / borrowing a long gun for the purpose of target shooting or hunting does not require any permits or background checks. If ownership is transferred, a background check would be needed for the buyer, not the seller.

Under this new law, a family member can no longer gift a long gun to another family member unless the person acquiring the long gun gets a background check at their local police station or sheriff’s department. The long gun does not need to be registered.

If you are a CPL holder and not exempt for some reason, it is not necessary to obtain a license to purchase a firearm otherwise required by MCL 28.422.

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Updated Domestic violence regulations

Public Acts 199, 200 & 201 of 2023

These new laws prohibit an individual convicted of a misdemeanor related to domestic violence from possessing firearms for at least an eight-year-period. Prior state law only prohibited those convicted of felony domestic violence from possessing firearms.

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Updated Red flag laws

Public Acts 35, 36, 37, & 38 of 2023

These new laws create extreme risk protection order laws, also known as red flag laws. Red flag laws are designed to help prevent a person in distress or crisis from using a firearm to inflict harm on themself or others. The laws don’t seek to take firearms away from gun owners who aren’t dangerous or in distress.

Enforcing this law requires court intervention.

Here’s how it works:

• Dating partners, current/former spouses, family members, persons who share a child, persons who resided in the same household, law enforcement member, health care providers, or mental health professionals can petition a court to have a person’s firearms temporarily removed if that person is deemed a risk.

• A judge may enter an emergency, short-term order after receiving evidence that the person in question poses an immediate risk.

• A hearing must be held to review the evidence for and against issuing a temporary firearm removal order.

• The person in question will be responsible for proving in court that they are not a risk and should regain access to their weapon(s), while those who filed the petition are to prove why the person might be a risk.

• If a judge does issue a firearm removal order, that order typically has a limited duration. In most cases around the country, a firearm removal order can only be extended if another hearing is held.

• Either way, in order for one or more firearms to be removed from someone’s possession under an extreme risk protection order, the court must validate the concern that was initially petitioned. Meaning, in these cases, a judge is always behind the decision to remove the firearms from an at-risk person.

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New Gun safety devices

Public Acts 14 & 15 of 2023

The costs of gun safety devices will be lowered in an effort to allow easier access to materials needed to safely store firearms.

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Nothing contained in this post may be utilized to provide legal advice. This office is providing this material for informational guidance only. Elected members and staff of the Michigan House of Representatives cannot give legal advice or legal interpretations to constituents. Please consult your own attorney for legal advice.