The Michigan Concealled Handgun Law

The Michigan Concealed Handgun Law Will owning and possessing a handgun make it safer for the people of Michigan to protect themselves and their families? On July 1 2001, Governor John Engler of Michigan, along with the majority of the state legislature, voted to pass the Michigan CCW law. This law allows anyone in the state, with no history of criminal activity or mental illness, to carry a handgun on their person. What is this law and how does it work? How can I use this law to protect my family? How have the people in the state reacted since this law was passed? Many people feel that this law may give criminals the chance to get a gun a lot easier, but in reality it makes it harder. The new concealed handgun laws are designed to help people protect the way of life for themselves and their families The Michigan CCW law was voted into law on January 1, 2001 as "Act No.

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381, Public Acts of 2000" approved by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State on January 2, 2001. This CCW act entails 15 pages of description on how to obtain a concealed weapon permit. It also describes the procedure to purchase and carry a concealed weapon in Michigan. To obtain a CCW license you must be 21 or older, never been convicted of a felony, or in some cases misdemeanor and no history of mental illness. The state police and sheriffs office requires the applicant to fill out a lot of paper work. Every must give their background information, fingerprints and sometimes job history. After the paper work, applicants are required to take a gun control class for eight hours and shooting class for three hours. Every person will go before two different state boards for evaluation and processing. On average it takes four to six months to go through the entire process. After the process is over, there are many rules to which a person can carry a gun. There are no guns allowed in government buildings, schools, day care centers, a sports arena or stadium, any building with a liqueur or alcohol license, any church of any kind, any entertainment facility with more than 2,500 people, a hospital, or any college dorm or campus. Violations of these laws can start with fines from $500 up to $5,000 with probation up to 6 years in jail. It is not easy to get a permit and there are severe penalties for violations of these laws.

A gun can be carried on a person loaded or unloaded at any time any place with exceptions from above. If a person feels that their life or the life of another person is threaten to the point of extreme bodily harm or death, a person can use the weapon at their on discretion. The law points out in detail how criminal charges will still be brought against that person if their firearm was used in any fashion regardless of the circumstances. The firearms training class also gives specific reasons a gun is to be used and what to do after a gun has been fired.

The state of Michigan has been very vocal about the recent laws. Many police agencies and officials do not like the fact that many people are walking around with a gun on their person. Other state officials and representatives feel that this will cause more harm than good. For example, Brenda Scott a Councilwoman from Detroit says "This new law would kick the door open to a flood of guns in the city of Detroit." However there has been a significant increase in concealed permits since the law was passed. Before the law was passed there were on average 65 people that applied for a gun permit in Wayne County. Since then about 150 people a day fill out applications for a gun permit. Officials for the state estimate that the total of permit seekers went from about 20,000 to about 200,000 in a matter of four months. That means there are a lot people that are willing to carry a gun for protection.

Carrying a gun for the right reason should be allowed. A person that owns a business, a person that lives in a high crime area, or a person that just feels like they want to protect their family better is now allowed the chance to help themselves. Many do not understand how it feels to get robbed or beaten for the money or merchandise they carry. Just ask the people that are applying for these permits why they are doing it. Many will tell you a story that most of us will never begin to understand. The laws are very strict, and it is not an easy process to go through. Not just anyone will be allowed to carry a gun legally. The police cannot protect everyone all of the time and people need to be sure that their family is safe and carrying a gun is one way to do that.

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