Gun Board Questions and Advice-Michigan

[American Finn]

Hello to all!!! I am going before the gun board in Macomb County, Michigan this month. I have been doing my research on the questions that I will be asked, and after watching a video put forth by the gun board as to the questions that I will be asked, I am now concerned and frightened.

Firstly, they ask you if you have ever had a PPO either currently in force against you, or one ever taken out against you. Six years ago I went through a really nasty divorce; she took one out against me with absolutely no proof of any misconduct on my part. She even admitted later that she did it just to make my life miserable. She accused me of beating her for eight years straight while we were married. Nice, huh? Supposedly I beat her for eight years without her ever having filed a police report against me (and she was an emergency room nurse, she knew all of the steps and processes to seek help if she was being abused). Needless to say, I had my attorney fight her in court and had it dismissed. It cost me over $3000 dollars, and then another $2500 to complete the divorce process. Thank goodness I never had children with her!!!

Secondly, they ask you if you have ever sought mental health treatment. I saw a counselor while going through the divorce process. I was depressed and needed someone to speak to.

Is this going to keep me from obtaining my CCW permit? I have never been in trouble with the law, have purchased firearms over the last few years, and am perfectly well adjusted, hard working, taxpaying American.

P.S. I am getting remarried next month, and my fiance is obtaining her CCW as well!!!

 

[glock36]

I am not a lawyer but I think if you were to get a letter from your diviorce attorney regarding the false accusation of abuse, I think that would speak volumes in your favor. As far as seeing the councilor it was voluntary and not court ordered so you should be good to go.
Keep us up to speed on the outcome, ok?

Good luck
God speed

 

[smalls]

Same thing happened to another guy while I was waiting for my name to be called. Just tell the truth, and tell them it was dismissed. A letter may be a good idea, but I don't see them giving you any trouble about it.
I also got my CPL in macomb, it takes 3 whole minutes and isn't as scary as it seems.

 

[Unistat]

Your should read this FAQ from the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners.

Hello to all!!! I am going before the gun board in Macomb County, Michigan this month. I have been doing my research on the questions that I will be asked, and after watching a video put forth by the gun board as to the questions that I will be asked, I am now concerned and frightened.

Relax. The gun boards do not have the power to deny you a CPL if meet the statutory requirements. Michigan is Shall-Issue and the gun boards are a relic of our Jim-Crow May-Issue past.

Firstly, they ask you if you have ever had a PPO either currently in force against you, or one ever taken out against you...

Tell them your story, but it really doesn't matter if you don't have a current PPO or a DV conviction.

Secondly, they ask you if you have ever sought mental health treatment. I saw a counselor while going through the divorce process. I was depressed and needed someone to speak to.

Also irrelevent. The gun boards cannot make clinical diagnosis. If you are not currently diagnosed with a mental illness, they cannot deny you.

Is this going to keep me from obtaining my CCW permit? I have never been in trouble with the law, have purchased firearms over the last few ears, and am perfectly well adjusted, hard working, taxpaying American.

No. You will be fine. Frankly, you could tell them to go spit and you'd get your permit, but it will be much less of a hassle to answer their questions.

P.S. I am getting remarried next month, and my fiance is obtaining her CCW as well!!!

Congratulations.

 

[Trebor]

Relax. The gun boards do not have the power to deny you a CPL if meet the statutory requirements. Michigan is Shall-Issue and the gun boards are a relic of our Jim-Crow May-Issue past. Michigan is Shall-Issue and the gun boards are a relic of our Jim-Crow May-Issue past.

Michigan is now a "shall issue" state and the gun boards have been stripped of most, but not all, of their powers.

That said, there is a provision in state law that a gun board can use to deny a CPL that is related to your concern.

This is from the MSP FAQ with the text of the law at:

http://michigan.gov/msp/1,1607,7-123-1591_3503_4654-10926--,00.html

Concealed Pistol License Requirements

A. State Requirements
Applicants for a Michigan Concealed Pistol License must:

[snip]

18. Not be detrimental to the safety of his or her self or any other person if issued a Concealed Pistol License


That "not be detrimental to the safety of himself or any other person" line does give the gun board some discretion to deny a CPL even if the applicant has not committed any of the specified offenes that automatically deny a permit.

How much discretion that gives them is a matter of debate. I know of people who have been denied a permit under this provision who appealed and succesfully won and received a permit. That tells me that it this provision is sometimes used, and sometimes used incorrectly.

Will it affect your sitution? No way to tell. My *guess* is that if you are honest and forthright, and the situation is as you say, you will probably be OK. You may want documentation to back up your statements in case they do get concerned about it.

I think that most likely it won't be an issue. No way to tell for sure. I can say that if you lie to the gun board, and they discover it, then you definitely won't get a permit.

 

[American Finn]

Thank your for your advice!!! I am much more at ease now.

The only thing I am concerned with is I can't find any paperwork from that time; I have my divorce decree and that is it. I will look again before I leave tomorrow; however, they have to already have my information and know about it.

Anyways, I will let you know how it goes tomorrow afternoon!!!

 

[Kaeto]

At least you are going before the Macomb County gun board. They have the reputation of being easier to deal with than the Wayne County one. Wayne County's gun board has the reputation of actively searching for any reason to deny a permit.

 

[Unistat]

At least you are going before the Macomb County gun board. They have the reputation of being easier to deal with than the Wayne County one. Wayne County's gun board has the reputation of actively searching for any reason to deny a permit.

Really? I didn't have to go before them, did you? How were they? Of the dozen or so peopple I know with CPLs, I don't know anyone whose actually gone before Wayne County. I assumed they were all too busy to bother with anything other than rubber stamping the permit. Wayne Co. has a tremendous volume of CPL applications.

 

[smalls]

^ So does Macomb.

 

[American Finn]

All went fine

I successfully went before the board today. No issues whatsoever; they asked me, I told them the truth, that my ex-wife used it as a way to hurt me and cause me trouble, and that it should have been expunged. In fact, I don't think they even knew about it!!!

Just traded in my Model 19 .357 with a 4-inch and acquired a Model 442 DAO .38 as my carry firearm. The Model 19, as great a pistol as it is, was still heavy and not very concealable. The 442 shoots great and is a great choice as far as concealment is concerned.

Thank you all for your words of wisdom!!!

 

[Unistat]

I successfully went before the board today. No issues whatsoever; they asked me, I told them the truth, that my ex-wife used it as a way to hurt me and cause me trouble, and that it should have been expunged. In fact, I don't think they even knew about it!!!

Just traded in my Model 19 .357 with a 4-inch and acquired a Model 442 DAO .38 as my carry firearm. The Model 19, as great a pistol as it is, was still heavy and not very concealable. The 442 shoots great and is a great choice as far as concealment is concerned.

Thank you all for your words of wisdom!!!

Congrats! Too bad you had to trade in the Model 19. I have a Model 13 and a 442, they make a great pair. I plan on adding a .357 lever action for a trifecta.