Currently, Michigan law requires individuals who are purchasing handguns from unlicensed sellers to have a permit to purchase or a license to carry a concealed handgun pursuant to a background check.¹ Beginning in early 2024, people buying handguns from dealers will also be required to have a purchase permit or concealed carry license as well as people purchasing long guns from private sellers or dealers.² However, an individual purchasing a long gun who has a background check performed on the individual by a federally licensed firearms dealer not more than 5 days before the purchase is exempt from the permit requirement.³

See the Michigan Background Checks and Michigan Licensing of Gun Owners/Purchasers, and Michigan Concealed Weapons Permitting sections for more detail.

For laws requiring sellers and buyers to create records of firearm sales and report such sales to law enforcement, see the Retention of Sales / Background Check Records in Michigan section.

In addition, a “seller”⁴ shall not knowingly sell a firearm or ammunition to a person:

• Under indictment for a felony; or

•  Prohibited from possessing, using, transporting, selling, purchasing, carrying, shipping, receiving, or distributing a firearm under Michigan law.⁵

State law criminalizes the accepting, or offering or displaying for resale, of a handgun by any pawnbroker or second-hand or junk dealer.⁶

See the Michigan Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Firearms section for age restrictions.

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1. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 28.422.[↩]
2. Id., effective in early 2024.[↩]
3. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 28.422a.[↩]
4. “Seller” is defined as “a person who sells, furnishes, loans, or gives a [handgun] to another person.” Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 750.222(g).[↩]
5. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 750.223(3)(a),(b).[↩]
6. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 750.229.[↩]