Moving to a new state, questions for moving guns.

[leadcounsel]

This legal issue just arose and I haven't had a chance to research it yet. Maybe someone else here has experienced a similar issue and knows the answer. I've already researched packing.org.

A person is a resident of Colorado. Colorado has no gun registration requirements. The person is planning to move to Michigan, which may have a registration requirement.

Questions:

1) This person wants to gift a C&R rifle, acquired in Colorado, to another person in Michigan.

2) Are there any legal problems with transporting that rifle across state lines from Colorado to Michigan.

3) Are there any legal problems with transfering ownership to another private party in Michigan for a weapon bought in Colorado?

4) Can a non-resident (still a Colorado resident) transfer the weapon, or must the Colorado resident wait until he assumes Michigan residency?

5) As far as I know, the state of Michigan requires a purchase permit to transfer a firearm from one individual to another, even for private sales. Is that accurate?

6) Colorado resident has many weapons in Colorado. He is undecided whether to leave these at his property in Colorado OR move them to Michigan. Are there any legal problems with transporting firearms from one state to another in a vehicle for the sake of changing residency?

7) Is there a Michigan requirement to register his handguns, rifles, shotguns, etc. with the state of Michigan if he takes them to Michigan? How about if he leaves them in Colorado?

 

[Phenom]

I've lived in Michigan so I can help answer some of your questions.

1. I don't think there's anything illegal with giving a person a long gun in Michigan that was purchased in another state.

2. That depends on the states you're driving through, like Illinois.

3. There's no registration in Michigan for long guns.

4. If you mean ship the rifle to a non FFL person, then no.

5. Only handguns require a purchase permit in Michigan everytime they're "change" hands. As far as I know long guns don't require purchase permits.

6. I don't think so as long as the guns are unloaded, locked in a case in the rear most of the vehicle. No ammunition can be in the case with the gun.

7. Handguns are required to be registered in Michigan. They must be taken straight police department for a permit. Again, there's no registration required for long guns. If the guns are left in Colorado then they're not subject to Michigan laws.

 

[SteveS]

As previously stated, MI requires a purchase permit (or MI CCW) for obtaining a handgun (private sales included), which must then be taken to the person's local police department for a "safety inspection"/registration. Failure to do this can is a misdemeanor and can result in confiscation of the pistol, plus fine and/or jail.

There is no inspection required for long guns, nor are there any prohibitions to transferring ownership once the person has moved here.

As for transporting guns from CO to MI, as long as they are legal in MI, the FOPA would protect that person if they passed through a state where they were not legal. They just need to be unloaded and in some kind of case in the trunk or rear of the vehicle.

If the person is moving here with any handguns, they must be "inspected." I don't believe it is absolutely necessary that they do it the same day they move into the house, but they should be done within a reasonable amount of time. The easiest thing to do is to contact the local police department and explain that you just moved and ask when you should come in. Some departments only do inspections at certain times.

 

[enfield]

Tip:

It would have been really expensive for me to buy cases for all my long guns during my recent move. Instead, I greased them up with RIG and wrapped them individually in bubble wrap and tape for the trip. I transported them in the back seat of my truck and they all survived the trip without damage.

 

[leadcounsel]

I greased them up with RIG and wrapped them individually in bubble wrap and tape for the trip.

Great tip for the MOVE and the STORAGE once I get there!