CHANGES TO THE MICHIGAN CONCEALED CARRY LAW AND WHAT THEY MEAN TO YOU

First, HB 4642, was signed by our Governor and became Pubic Act 75 of 2006. This law exempts a CPL holder from the safety inspection process when borrowing a handgun that has been properly inspected in the State of Michigan. This law becomes effective on July 1, 2006. Practically what this means is this: After July 1, 2006 it will be legal

for me to borrow my wife’s handgun, which is safety inspected/registered in her name, and carry it and transport it because I am a CPL holder in the State of Michigan. I could do the same if the gun belonged to my brother, father, or my best friend. Obviously, you should use caution in loaning or borrowing firearms as you should be absolutely convinced of the other person’s moral character.

Second, HB 4643, was also signed by our Governor and became Public Act 92 of 2006. This law provides “gap” and “overlap” protection for CPL holders during the renewal of their license. “Overlap” was happening when a person put in their renewal application early to make sure their old license did not expire before their new license was issued. Now, as long as you do not put your renewal application in more than a year in advance of the expiration date, the date of the new license must start on the same date as the expiration date of your old license. A “gap” occurs when you have submitted your application for renewal of your CPL and you do not receive your new license before your old license expires. During the time period when the old license had expired and the new license had not yet been issued, if you carried your firearm concealed, you were committing a felony. Now, as long as you have submitted your renewal application AND paid for the renewal application AND had your fingerprints taken for a criminal background check, AND the clerk has given you a receipt for payment of said renewal application embossed with the county seal, AND this was completed no less than 60 days prior to the expiration date, even if your license expires it is automatically extended for 180 days. You must carry the receipt and the expired license when carrying concealed during this time period until your new license is issued. This law also requires that the county gun board issue a renewal license within 60 days of the date of the application.

Our thanks to Representative Rick Jones who sponsored both of these pieces of legislation.