Quote by oldbillthundercheif:
I thought that MI was pretty loose with their gun laws, I guess I was wrong. That sounds almost as bad as Illinois
There is no way MI is as bad as IL with regard to handguns. It is true that there is a registration requirement, but it is really nothing more than a paperwork exercise - get the form, fill it out, spend 10 minutes getting the "safety inspection" and go home. Getting the form is simple - just ask for it. No application process, no background checks, none of that stuff. There is a thing about answering 70% of the questions on basic firearms knowlege correctly, but I don't know anyone who's ever had to actually do that. They do all the other checks when you return with the gun for the "safety inspection", and it's never taken me more than 10 minutes if I go when they're not transferring prisoners to court or some other busy time.
I used to live in IL, and gave up trying to get through that maze. Michigan is MUCH easier. Registration here is a political issue, to be sure, but as a process it's just not that big a deal. Some people complain about "having to drive to the authority, and drive home, and spend their valuable time, etc. etc.", and I'm sure that to some it's an inconvenience. But that's all it is at worst.
Quote by Bezoar:
The last time i contacted the state police they said that only handguns firing cartridges require permits and registrations. At that time, roughly two years ago, the fine for the civil infraction of failure to register a handgun was only 50 dollars.
This is really the whole crux of the matter - you get different opinions from different people because the written law here is being "interpreted" differently. In my area both the State Police and the local Sheriff adhere to the "if you have the means to shoot it, you must register it" interpretation, and the local prosecutor will support that if they feel you are a miscreant.
Quote by Bezoar:
In the last two years the state police website has dropped all mention of black powder hand guns in the section of purchase permits and registration of handguns.
You are correct. The source of this "if you have the means" position can be found in the "Firearms Identification Guide" under Black Powder pistols on page 23: "If an individual purchases a black powder pistol with the intention of firing it, a license to purchase must be completed and it must be registered." This "Guide" is by no means law; it's purpose is to guide the various agencies in filling out the registration forms, but it's widely used as a guide to interpreting the law. There may be support for that position elsewhere in the Michigan statutes, and I'm not qualified to say whether there is or isn't. All I really know is that those who have challenged that position and gone before the courts have not succeeded, either because there is legal authority or they ran out of money to pursue it. Either way, it's not a position I intend to defy, especially since the cost of compliance is a little inconvenience (yeah, I hear you - registration is costing us our freedoms, and you're right, but I don't wish to take up that argument here).
As for the $50 fine - sentences vary widely here, as you well know. The $1500 may have included penalties for violating hunting laws as well, I don't know.
