Michigan Democrat Thinks Gun Buyers Need Another Permission Slip

Gun buyers in Michigan already have to undergo a background check before purchasing a firearm, which in the case of a private sale also means obtaining a License to Purchase from local law enforcement. 

Soon, though, those purchasing a firearm could have to undergo the same firearm training course that's required to obtain a license to carry, even if they want to simply keep a firearm in the home. 

Democrat Rep. Sharon MacDonell is the chief sponsor of House Bill 6477, which was introduced this week ahead of the 2027 session. Michigan is one of six states where Democrats gained a governing trifecta on Election Day this year, so if Democrat leadership gets behind the legislation it may very well become law. 

There are a few reasons for MacDonell's fellow Democrats and gun control supporters to reject her bill, though. We know the objections from a pro-Second Amendment standpoint, of course, but think about it from an anti-gunner's perspective. 

If getting the same training required for a license to carry is suddenly mandatory for anyone purchasing a firearm, you're most likely going to have a lot more Michiganders lawfully carrying guns around. Someone who originally just wanted a handgun for home defense may very well decide to get a concealed carry license and start keeping that pistol on their person when they're in public as well, since they've already had to undergo the training necessary. Is that really what MacDonnell and her fellow gun control supporters want? 

This could also lead to more people turning to the black market to get a gun; not because they have any criminal intent, but because in some parts of the state it will simply be easier to illegally acquire a firearm than it is to go through the additional steps MacDonell is hoping to impose. 

Under current law, acquiring a firearm without complying with the purchase-license law is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $100 fine. 

Democrats love to talk about how the criminal justice system imposes unfair burdens on low-income Americans, and more than a few progressives have complained about laws that impose incarceration for low-level or non-violent offenses. MacDonell's bill, if it becomes law, could easily result in more people going to jail or at least being saddled with a criminal record for what amounts to a paperwork violation. That should raise the hackles of Michigan's more progressive legislators, so long as they don't just simply turn a blind eye to the impact of what she is demanding. 

MacDonell's proposal will also hinder someone's ability to get a gun when they have an acute need for one, like someone who's being threatened by an abusive former partner and wants to purchase a handgun for home defense. Under the proposed law, if she needs an license to purchase, she'd first have to locate an approved instructor, find an available class, pay for and go through eight hours of training, submit proof of that training, and wait for police to issue her a license to purchase before obtaining the firearm.

For lawmakers who claim to prioritize protecting victims of domestic violence, MacDonell's bill should be a non-starter.

There's one other wrinkle in MacDonell's proposal. The concealed carry training requirement goes for every firearm purchase, including long guns. Requiring someone to complete a concealed carry training course before they can buy a gun they have no intention of carrying concealed is simply absurd.

Imagine a Michigan resident who wants to buy a used hunting rifle from a neighbor. Under MacDonell's bill, that buyer would have to complete a course that includes at least five hours of classroom instruction and three hours of range time, firing at least 30 rounds. And because the legislation references Michigan's existing concealed pistol training requirements, that instruction includes the laws governing concealed carry.

What purpose does that serve for someone buying a bolt-action deer rifle or a shotgun for turkey hunting? Why should they have to learn the ins and outs of carrying a concealed handgun before they can legally purchase a firearm that isn't designed to be carried concealed in the first place?

Second Amendment supporters in Michigan need to start raising these objections with their own legislators ahead of the 2027 session. Michigan Democrats may have the votes to impose more barriers to lawful gun ownership, but having the political power to enact a bad idea doesn't make it a good one. 

Editor’s Note: The radical Left will stop at nothing to enact their extreme gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights.

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