Michigan Firearm Laws are some of the most confusing out of all the 50 states. We are here to give you some quick tips on how to stay legal when transporting your pistol.
Hello everyone, may name is Joseph Radzwion IV, Your Trusted Attorney with Radzwion Law, PLLC and this post we are looking at how you can safely and legally transport your pistol in a vehicle if you do not have a Concealed Pistol License (“CPL”).
If you openly carry your pistol in a holster without a CPL or need to know how to go from your house to a shooting range, this post is for you. The simple fact of the matter is if you want to take you pistol somewhere you cannot simply get into a vehicle while carrying the pistol. This would be a violation of the law if you do not have a CPL. See MCL 750.227.
Location is Important
So how you can legally transport your pistol? Remember if you have a car or an SUV the point is that you want the pistol in the furthest most inaccessible point to the occupants of the vehicle. In other words, you want the pistol to be out of reach as much as possible from ALL people that are riding in the vehicle. In a car it should be in the trunk. In an SUV it needs to be placed in the cargo area.
Special Box
Now the law also says that the pistol should in a closed case designed for the storage of firearms for a vehicle that does not have a trunk. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it also cannot be a tissue box. It could be a locking box or the case that the pistol comes in just remember that it has to be a case “designed for the storage of firearms” that is quoted directly from MCL 750.321a. And it must be able to be closed.
Completely Unloaded
Additionally, the law states that the pistol must be unloaded. This means the magazine should be removed from the pistol. It also means if there is a round in the chamber it needs to be removed from the pistol as well. If it is a revolver, the cylinders should all be emptied. If you would like a live demonstration of the entire process of legally transporting a pistol, we will have a video at the bottom of this post.
Tip to Think like a Lawyer
The ammunition does not have to be separate from the box it can be right next to the box that has your pistol in it. But, if you are overly precautious you can take the ammunition (still in the magazine) and store it up in the glovebox or center counsel.
If you have any questions about firearms law or you'd like to get your CPL so you don't have to go through the transport process, send us an email or leave us a comment!
REMEMBER: Our posts should never be taken as legal advice. You should ALWAYS consult a Trusted Attorney with your legal questions.
Your Trusted Attorney
If you would like to retain Radzwion Law, PLLC as Your Trusted Attorney, please do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to protect you when you need it most and we will fight for your freedom!