Michigan: Senate Needs to Hear from You about Several Pro-Gun Reforms Up for a Vote

Tomorrow, September 11, the Michigan state senate will convene for a total of seven days throughout the entire month of September.  It is imperative that each and every NRA member in Michigan contact their state senator, senate leadership, and Lt. Gov Brian Calley to urge them to consider and vote on House Bill 5225 and its companion bills.  If passed, these bills would repeal Michigan’s “permit-to-purchase” and registration requirements for handguns. 

HB 5225 and its companion bills must all be passed by the Senate collectively before September 27^th to become eligible for Governor Snyder’s signature.

HB 5225, sponsored by state Representative Paul Opsommer (R-93), would repeal the outdated and duplicative “permit-to-purchase” requirement.  Under the current state process, gun buyers must apply with their local law enforcement agency and pass a written test before being authorized to buy a handgun.  This “permit” is valid for only one gun and it expires after ten days.  This process became obsolete when the NICS took effect in 1998.  Since that time, federal law has required a national criminal records check for the purchase of any firearm, from any gun dealer, in every state. The NRA has been working diligently to repeal the antiquated, costly and unnecessary “permit-to-purchase” obstacle for gun owners, and has coordinated with several state Representatives to produce new language for HB 5225. 

HB 5225 as amended would, if enacted:

• Repeal the state requirement to seek police permission to purchase a firearm by traveling to a local police station and obtaining a permit to purchase.
• Repeal the requirement for a law-abiding citizen to register a legally purchased and owned firearm with the government through the police.
• Adopt the use of the federally-funded National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
• Cut Michigan’s costs by using the federally-administered National Instant Background Check System and eliminate wasted man-hours of tracking lawful gun owners in Michigan.
• Default to the federal standard of prohibited persons and require a background check for each purchase.

The two companion firearm reform bills are also before the state Senate:  HB 5498, sponsored by state Representative Richard LeBlanc (D-18), provides for legal penalties relating to firearms and other weapons.  HB 5499, sponsored by state Representative Ray Franz (R-101), clarifies the regulations regarding the sale of firearms to “prohibited persons” and makes them consistent with federal standards.

Please remind your state senator that this package of bills has passed with strong support.  In the state House of Representatives these bills passed by an overwhelming 74 to 36 vote (found on page 14 of the House Journal) on June 13.  Additionally, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the two companion bills to HB 5225, House Bill 5498, by a 4 to 0 vote, and House Bill 5499 by a 4 to 0 vote with one technical change.

Please contact your senator immediately and urge every gun owner across Michigan to contact their state senator to get these bills passed!  To find your state Senator’s contact information, please click here.