Buying a Gun in Michigan: Laws, Loopholes & Safety Concerns

Michigan's firearm laws are among the least restrictive in the United States:

• No purchase permit required for handguns.
• No mandatory waiting period.
• No universal background checks – private sales (including at gun shows and between individuals) do not require a background check.

These gaps allow individuals prohibited from owning firearms (felons, domestic abusers, those adjudicated mentally ill) to easily obtain guns through private transactions.

Impact

In 2020, Michigan recorded 1,346 gun deaths—the second-highest total nationally.

Proposed Reforms

• Universal background checks for all firearm transfers.
• Increased funding for violence-intervention and mental-health programs.

Advocates argue these measures would reduce illegal access and save lives without infringing on lawful ownership.