Michigan has no law that imposes a penalty on someone who fails to secure an unattended firearm and leaves it accessible to an unsupervised minor.

However, Michigan provides criminal liability for a parent of any child under age 18 whose child violates a state firearm-related law while on school property or in a school vehicle, if the parent had custody of the child and: 1) knew the child would commit the violation; or 2) acted to further the violation.¹

See Gun Dealers in Michigan for requirements that dealers post child safety notices.

Michigan has no law that requires unattended firearms to be stored in a certain way.

Michigan does prohibit a federally licensed firearms dealer from selling a firearm unless the sale includes a commercially available:

• Trigger lock or other device designed to disable and prevent the discharge of the firearm; or
• Gun case or storage container that can be secured to prevent unauthorized access to the firearm.¹

This law does not apply to law enforcement, any person who can establish that they have already purchased a qualifying trigger lock or gun case, or the sale of antique firearms.²

Michigan does not require firearm owners to lock their weapons, although administrative regulations may apply in certain locations.

MEDIA REQUESTS

Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.

Contact

1. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 750.235a. Michigan also penalizes any person who, because of carelessness, recklessness or negligence, but not willful or wanton conduct, causes or allows any firearm under his or her immediate control to be discharged and kill or injure another person. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 752.861. This law, however, does not seem to be used to hold individuals responsible for failing to secure a gun under their immediate control if it is accessed by a minor.[↩]