Michigan Handgun Purchasing Laws

[The Wiry Irishman]

I'm currently living in Indiana taking summer classes, but my legal residence is in Michigan. I'll be turning 21 soon, and would like to buy a pistol. I know Michigan requires you to obtain a purchase permit before you can even buy a pistol. I don't know specifics, however. What would I have to do to get one, and how long does it take? Living in working in Indiana prevents me from going back to Michigan for any length of time. Is it something I can do in one day? Also, how does it apply with FFL transfers? Could I request one without a purchase permit, then go get one and show it to the dealer when I pick up the firearm? Also, my father got a purchase permit a few years ago, could he use that to buy a gun for me, or do the permits only apply to a single firearm? And if I my father bought the gun for me, would be qualify as a straw sale?

 

[Juna]

I believe there are some variations between different cities, as well. So I would check with your local authorities near your residence.

For me, I had to go to the local city PD and sign up for a purchase permit. What happens then is they do a background check. If you have no criminal record, they say it takes 24 hours, if you do, it takes 48 hours. Then you go back and pick up your purchase permit. The permit where I live is good for 10 days. If you find a gun you want 11 days later, then you have to get another purchase permit.

I bought my gun from out of state, so I took my purchase permit to my FFL (who had received the shipped gun). He filled out all the necessary stuff. Then I had to take the gun back to the local PD for them to record the serial number, capacity, caliber, model, etc. They never test fired it or anything like that. It took all of 10 minutes. Then they gave me a little card that is basically a copy of my registration proving that I own the gun. Then I walked out with my gun.

So all in all, it took me about 2-3 days to get my gun from the time it came in, but the extra day was b/c I couldn't get off work 24 hours after my background check during city hours. Longer than it should be, but do-able. I think this whole purchase permit & registration business is a bunch of unconstitutional garbage, but that's me. There are states that are worse off, though that's no excuse for violating the constitution.

Regarding FFL transfers... check with your local PD as to the length of validity of purchase permits. Ours is 10 days. So I contacted the guy whose gun I wanted, negotiated a price, contacted my FFL (who contacted the seller), sent the seller my check, and then he shipped it to my FFL. Once I got confirmation that it had been sent and was en route, I then got my purchase permit (figuring it'd take a few days to get to the FFL, but not more than 10). It took about 3-4 days shipping. Then I brought my purchase permit to the FFL, went back to the PD to register the gun, and then I was done.

 

[thumbody]

It depends on where you live in MI. In the more rural areas you can usually go to the sheriffs office,Pick up a purchase permit, go buy your gun and take it back for the regi er.. I mean SAFETY inspection.The inspection must be done within 10 days.

Apparrently some areas near the Detroit area are giving people the run around on the purchase permits.http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=199343

Maybe this will help.
http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1591_3503_4654-16241--,00.html

 

[Juna]

FYI, I live in the Detroit area, and I didn't get the run-around. They advised me not to apply for my purchase permit until the FFL got the gun in case there were shipping delays (b/c the permit expires in 10 days, and then I'd have to apply for another one). I applied for it, anyway, once I got confirmation from the shipping courier that it was en route. The guy only lived like 2 states away from me and it was a major shipping courier, so I figured it would be much less than 10 days shipping, and I was right.

Also, I did not have to pay any fee for the purchse permit or anything else. My PD also gave me a free cable gun lock. They were pretty nonchalant about the whole thing (if you can get past the outrage of having to get a permit to own something the constitution says it is your right to own, and the fact that you have to register it).

Make no mistake about it, it is NOT a "safety inspection". The woman who "inspected" mine had no clue about guns. She was a secretary who was recording the caliber, make, model, and serial number. She also asked me the capacity of the magazines (she couldn't tell b/c she had no clue). She didn't dry fire it, inspect the internals, test fire it, or do anything of the sort. It is a registration, so don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

 

[nelson133]

The solution to a lot of the pre-purchase nonsense is to get a CPL, then you no longer have to get a purchase permit, just show up at the local autrhority with the gun and the piece of paper showing who you got it from.

 

[david_the_greek]

same story as these guys for me. Went to the local PD and chatted about firearms for a little while and was told I'd receive a call in a day to pick up my permit and that it would be good for 10 days. To add a question (sorry for the intrusion on your thread), does anyone know the law for under 21 interstate sales? I bought by PCR under the age of 21 from a guy I met through THR and it went great. Is it legal for someone under 21 to buy interstate from a non FFL? can they pick it up or do they need to have it shipped to an FFL I wonder. non of the gun shops I've been to in the SE michigan area have any idea about gun laws when I ask them so that takes them out of answering me, anyhelp appreciated.