Michigan’s hate and gun laws have significant gaps that allow people convicted of violent hate crimes to keep and access firearms under state law, although hate crime convictions in Michigan generally trigger important federal firearm restrictions.
Access to Guns for People Convicted of Hate Crimes in Michigan
| Violence with Severe Bodily Injury | Violence with Bodily Injury | Other Crimes Involving Intentional Use of Force | Threats with Deadly Weapons | Other Credible Threats to Physical Safety | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Law | Very limited or no access | Very limited or no access | Very limited or no access | Very limited or no access | Very limited or no access |
| State Law | Very limited or no access | Very limited or no access | Very limited or no access | Very limited or no access | Some access |
In 2024, Michigan significantly updated its hate crime law, creating a broader statute that expands protected categories and strengthens penalties.1 Under the new law, a person commits a hate crime if they maliciously and intentionally targets someone based on an actual or perceived protected characteristic—including race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ethnicity, national origin, or association with a group—by using force, causing bodily injury, stalking, damaging property, or making a true threat.2
Michigan law prohibits people from accessing firearms for a temporary period (between three to five years after release) if they have been convicted of a felony punishable by four or more years in prison.3 “Felony” in this section means a violation or attempted violation of a state or federal law punishable by imprisonment for four years or more.4 However, people convicted of other felonies and violent misdemeanors are generally not prohibited from accessing firearms under Michigan law (though federal firearm restrictions apply).5
Under the new law, penalties for hate crimes are tiered based on the severity of the conduct, with enhanced penalties for repeat offenses and for crimes committed with a firearm or other dangerous weapon. Such hate crimes are now classified as felonies subject to 10 or more years of imprisonment, thus triggering state firearm prohibitions.6
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- MI HB 5400 (2024). Codified as Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.147b.[↩]
- Id.[↩]
- Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.224f.[↩]
- Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.224f(9)(b).[↩]
- Federal law generally prohibits people from accessing firearms if they have been convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison or a state law misdemeanor offense punishable by more than two years. 18 U.S.C. § 922 (g)(1); 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20)(B).[↩]
- Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.147b, b-c.[↩]