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Michigan Gun Control Laws

By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Jeff Burtka, Esq. | Last reviewed May 26, 2021

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and attorneys and in accordance with our editorial standards.

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area.

Laws regulating the purchase, ownership, and access of firearms vary widely from state to state. Generally, states with higher rural populations tend to be less restrictive than those with more significant urban populations. Michigan gun control laws are somewhere in the middle.

The finer points of Michigan's gun control laws are highlighted in the following chart. For more articles and resources, see the links at the end of this article.

Relevant Statutes (Laws)

 Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 750, Michigan Penal Code, Sections 222 through 239a
  • Selling firearms and ammunition - Section 223
  • Manufacture, sale, or possession of certain weapons - Section 224
  • Short-barreled shotgun or rifle; making, manufacturing, transferring, or possessing prohibited - Section 224b
  • Armor-piercing ammunition; manufacture, distribution, sale or use prohibited - Section 224c
  • Manufacture, sale, or possession of semiautomatic firearm conversion devices - Section 224e
  • Possession of firearm or ammunition by a person convicted of a felony - Section 224f
  • Concealed weapons, carrying - Section 227
  • Unlawful possession of firearms on various premises - Section 234d
  • Weapon free school zones - Section 237a
Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 28, Michigan State Police, Sections 421 through 435
  • Licensure to purchase, carry, possess, or transport pistol - Section 422
  • Purchasing, carrying, possessing, using, or transporting pistols by individuals with other licenses - Section 422a
  • Licensure to carry concealed pistol - Section 425b

Illegal Arms

 The following are illegal to possess:
  • Machine gun or firearm that shoots or is designed to shoot automatically more than 1 shot without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger
  • Muffler or silencer
  • Short-barreled shotgun (except as permitted by federal law)
  • Short-barreled rifle (except as permitted by federal law)
  • Armor-piercing ammunition
  • A device that is designed or intended to be used to convert a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm

Waiting Period

 Michigan has no waiting period for purchasing a firearm.

Who May Not Own

 The following individuals are prohibited from owning a firearm in Michigan:
  • Persons under the age of eighteen;
  • Convicted felons (individuals may have their gun ownership rights restored after certain conditions are met);
  • Individuals who have been declared insane and their sanity has not been restored by court order; and
  • Individuals under order for commitment due to mental illness.

License Required?

 A purchase license is required when buying a handgun, except when buying from a federally licensed dealer.

Concealed Carry License Required?

 Michigan requires you to obtain a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) to carry a concealed pistol.

Open Carried Allowed?

 Open carry is allowed in Michigan.

Eligibility for a Concealed Carry License

 To obtain a concealed pistol license, a person must:
  • Be 21 years of age or older
  • Be a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted into the United States
  • Be a legal resident of Michigan who has resided in Michigan for not less than the 6 months immediately preceding the date of application
  • Have knowledge and training in the safe use and handling of a pistol through the successful completion of a pistol safety training course or class
  • Not be the subject of an order or disposition under any of the following: involuntary hospitalization or alternative treatment, legal incapacitation, personal protection order, bond or conditional release prohibiting purchase or possession of a firearm, or finding of not guilty by reason of insanity
  • Not be prohibited from possessing a firearm under Michigan law
  • Not have been convicted of a felony in Michigan or elsewhere and must not have a felony charge pending in Michigan or elsewhere
  • Not have been dishonorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces
  • Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor listed in M.C.L. 28.425b
  • Not have been found guilty but mentally ill of any crime, and has not offered a plea of not guilty of, or been acquitted of, any crime by reason of insanity
  • Have never been subject to an order of involuntary commitment in an inpatient or outpatient setting due to mental illness
  • Not have a diagnosed mental illness that includes an assessment that the individual presents a danger to themself or to another
  • Not be under a court order of legal incapacity in Michigan or elsewhere
  • Have a valid state-issued driver's license or personal identification card

Machine Gun Laws

 Illegal to own

Penalties for Illegal Firearm Possession

 Illegal possession is a felony. Depending on which statute is violated, it is punishable by imprisonment up to 5 years and a fine up to $5,000.

Penalties for Illegal Possession on or Near School Grounds

 Illegal possession of a firearm on school grounds is punishable by 1 or more of the following:
  • Imprisonment for not more than 93 days
  • Community service for not more than 100 hours
  • A fine of not more than $2,000

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Research the Law

Facing a Firearms Violation in Michigan?

If you have questions about your legal rights to own a firearm or you have been charged with a firearms violation, you may consider contacting an experienced Michigan criminal defense attorney. Individuals who cannot afford to hire a private attorney may be eligible for representation by the local public defender's office.

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

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