Criminal Defense Facts: What Should I Know About Michigan’s New Gun Laws?

Michigan’s gun laws are changing and these changes may have implications for individuals with criminal records and for those facing criminal charges. Criminal defense lawyers like Gordon & Hess, PLC are taking a close look at these new laws and how they will affect people living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Here are some things to keep in mind:

1.      The law changes who approves your gun license in Grand Rapids, Michigan. County gun licensing boards no longer will play a role in granting or denying gun licenses in Michigan. According to WSBT 22, the new law puts each county’s clerk in charge of denying or granting a new gun license. 

2.      Background checks will be performed by one group. In order to streamline the process that allows people to carry concealed weapons, licenses will now be approved by one 13-person team.

3.      A new online system connected to state police records will help clerks track applicant eligibility. The clerk will have the final say in denying or approving an application based on a cross-reference with an applicant’s police records. An arrest, a criminal charge, or criminal conviction could affect a person’s eligibility to carry a concealed weapon. In order to protect your freedom and your rights, if you’ve been arrested or face criminal charges, it is important that you seek the representation of a criminal defense lawyer in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

4.      The law eliminates the three member gun board Michigan counties previously used. In the past, individuals seeking a concealed weapons license, would have their application reviewed by a three-member board that consisted of local law enforcement officials. According to the Guardian, even in cases where an individual would be qualified to hold a concealed weapon, the board could choose to interview the individual and still deny the right to carry a weapon. The interview process was designed with the intention to reveal other issues which might make the person’s holding a concealed weapon dangerous to the general population—including mental health issues.

5.      It may be easier for some people to get a concealed weapon. The Guardian claims that the boards prevented individuals with alcohol charges and drug charges from acquiring a weapon. Juveniles with serious records and individuals with domestic abuse records could be denied the right to carry a concealed weapon under the old system. While individuals with mental health issues will be asked to disclose this information under the new system, county clerks are not allowed to access a person’s health records when making a decision.

6.      Statutory requirements haven’t changed. In order to carry a concealed weapon in Michigan, you need to complete gun safety training, must not have a felony conviction, and must not be the subject of a personal protection order.

Because statutory requirements for carrying a gun remain the same in Michigan, if you’re facing a felony charge, you may face serious changes to the kinds of freedoms you have and the kinds of rights you can enjoy under Michigan law. If you’re facing a criminal charge in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it is important to seek the counsel of a qualified criminal defense attorney like Gordon & Hess PLC. You can visit their website at www.gordonhess.com for more information about the types of cases they handle.