The right to own and use a firearm also comes with the responsibility to use the weapon safely. This means that a person should not brandish a weapon unless authorized to do so by law. For many years, the term “brandishing” was not defined under state law and...
Firearm Offenses
Can You Legally Create Your Own Firearm In Michigan?
Under U.S. federal law, the creation and possession of homemade firearms for private use has always been legal. A person that seeks to sell or distribute firearms must obtain a federal license for manufacture and the firearm must bear a unique serial number. ...
Can A Voter Carry A Firearm To A Polling Location In Michigan?
On October 16, 2020, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, as the chief election officer, issued directions to local election officials that the open carry of firearms on Election Day in locations where voting activity is occurring. Specifically, the...
What Are The Penalties For Use Or Possession Of A Firearm Under The Influence In Michigan?
“Guns don’t kill people, people do.” When it comes to innocent victims being hurt or killed by firearms, the person holding the gun is the ultimately responsible and the gun is the proximate cause. There is no question that firearms are inherently dangerous...
What Are The Penalties For Using Or Possessing A Short-Barrel (“Sawed-Off”) Shotgun Or Rifle In Michigan?
The short-barrel (or “sawed-off”) shotgun is romanticized in movies and television as a potent weapon. It seems to combine the power of a regular shotgun with the portability of a handgun. It is easier to carry and conceal on someone’s person without the long...
How Do You Get Your Gun Rights Restored In Michigan?
In Michigan, a felony conviction can cause the offender to lose his or her legal right to carry a gun. A person convicted of a felony (“a violation of a law of this state, another state or the United States that is punishable by imprisonment for 4 years or...
What Are The Legal Responsibilities With Inheriting A Handgun In Michigan?
In Michigan, “a person shall not purchase, carry, possess, or transport a pistol in this state without first having obtained a license for the pistol.” MCL 28.422(1). Anyone looking to obtain or purchase a handgun must fill out an application at a local law...
What Are The Penalties For “Felony Firearm” In Michigan?
The crime of "felony firearm" is the offense of carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of another felony. For example, if you are selling cocaine and you possessed a weapon during the sale, you can be charged and convicted of delivery of cocaine AND...
What Are The Penalties For A Convicted Felon In Possession Of A Firearm In Michigan?
A felony conviction in the State of Michigan has several collateral consequences that go beyond the fines, probation and imprisonment imposed. Convicted felons lose the ability to serve on a jury, may lose their professional licenses, jeopardize their immigration...
What Are The Penalties For Carrying A Weapon With Unlawful Intent In Michigan?
The "right to keep and bear arms" is enumerated and preserved by both the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Section Six of the Constitution of Michigan of 1963. Michigan law permits an individual to openly carry a firearm in public (provided certain...
