The state of Michigan launched new gun laws involving firearm possession and purchasing that took effect Tuesday.
In response to the mass shooting resulting in three student deaths occurring on Michigan State University’s East Lansing campus over a year ago, lawmakers worked to have several gun laws reformed.
The recognition to create new laws began after the End Gun Violence Michigan press conference, which took place days after the tragedy in East Lansing. The new laws are being created under the topics of safe storage, universal background checks, domestic violence gun laws and “red flag” laws.
Once the new laws are released, gun owners have to store unattended weapons unloaded and locked. That applies to any locking device that has a trigger lock and gun safe. A new mandate will go into effect for all firearms as well. It won’t impact individuals who have already purchased a long gun, but it will impact those who don’t own one. These laws are under safe storage and universal background checks.
Any offensive action regarding misdemeanor domestic violence will make the individual warrant an eight-year ban on possessing, purchasing or distributing firearms. The new “red flag” laws will allow judges to confiscate firearms from individuals who pose to harm others, but also themselves and they can issue an extreme risk protection order or ERPO. These laws are under domestic violence and “red flag” laws.
Despite the laws changing, if an individual wants to purchase a firearm in Michigan, they will have to meet the same eligibility qualifications for the existing Concealed Pistol License (CPL). The qualifications are as listed:
- They have to be a United States citizen or a legal resident.
- They can’t be subject to specified orders outlined in the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN).
- They can’t have a pending felony charge or other disqualifying criminal charge within a specified timeframe to application outlined in current law.
- They can’t be barred from possessing or distributing a firearm under the current law.
- A judge must not have determined them to currently be insane or legally incapacitated in the state or be involuntarily committed to a care facility due to mental illness.
In addition to meeting the new qualifications, individuals can also file a request to the court for an extreme risk protection order. These certain types of individuals are listed:
- The individual’s spouse or mate
- Someone with whom the individual has a child
- Someone with whom the individual is in a dating relationship or has been in a “dating relationship” – which is defined as a relationship that consists of frequent, intimate associations primarily characterized by the expectation of affectional involvement
- Someone residing or a past resident of the individual’s household
- A family member, specifically a parent, a son or daughter, a sibling, an uncle or aunt, a grandparent, a grandparent or a first cousin
- A law enforcement officer
- A mental health professor
Computer information systems junior Stephen Bender believes that the new laws are a step in the right direction to reducing deaths in the future, but also feels as though the laws are too extensive in terms of misdemeanor domestic violence.
“The new law barring those who were charged with misdemeanor or domestic violence from possessing or purchasing a gun for eight years seems like an overreach of power that infringes upon our constitutional right to own a firearm,” Bender said. “I agree that very violent people shouldn’t own a gun, but barring misdemeanor offenders for eight whole years is too far.”
For more information on gun laws and other news across the state, visit https://michiganadvance.com.