Are You Exempt From Pistol Registration in Michigan?

Michigan is one of the few states that require people who buy handguns to register them. The law is ineffective in solving crimes. There is only one case known, in over 90 years of the law’s existence, that may have been solved because of pistol registration in Michigan.

 Link to video

The primary purpose of the legislation, enacted in 1927, is believed t have been to keep black people form legally owning pistols. The law is an artifact of racial discrimination that serves no useful purpose.  The law that requires the pistol license and registration is MCL 28.422, Section 2. (1). Section 2. (1) of MCL 28.422 states:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this act, a person shall not purchase, carry, possess, or transport a pistol in this state without first having obtained a license for the pistol as prescribed in this section.

There are several exemptions from the requirement for a pistol license.
From  MCL 28.432:

28.432 Inapplicability of MCL 28.422; amendatory act as “Janet Kukuk act”.

Sec. 12.

(1) Section 2 does not apply to any of the following:

(a) A police or correctional agency of the United States or of this state or any subdivision of this state.

(b) The United States army, air force, navy, or marine corps.

(c) An organization authorized by law to purchase or receive weapons from the United States or from this state.

(d) The national guard, armed forces reserves, or other duly authorized military organization.

(e) A member of an entity or organization described in subdivisions (a) through (d) for a pistol while engaged in the course of his or her duties with that entity or while going to or returning from those duties.

(f) A United States citizen holding a license to carry a pistol concealed upon his or her person issued by another state.

(g) The regular and ordinary possession and transportation of a pistol as merchandise by an authorized agent of a person licensed to manufacture firearms or a licensed dealer.

Tom Lambert, President of Michigan Open Carry ably demonstrates that under (f), you do not need a Michigan Pistol License. The Michigan Pistol License is separate and different from the Michigan Concealed Pistol License.

People are seldom prosecuted for not having their pistol registered in Michigan. I cannot remember the last case.

If you do not wish to have your pistol registered in Michigan, and you have a concealed carry permit from another state, simply do not turn in the forms for registration in Michigan.

 (f) A United States citizen holding a license to carry a pistol concealed upon his or her person issued by another state.

According to the above, you are exempted from the law.

©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch