Is Michigan Okay ?

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garbler

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First time in the 'Lounge' been hanging out in reloading and gunsmithing so hope this is the right place. Anyway it looks like I going to be packing up and moving again and this time back to my wife's homeland — Michigan. More specifically the area from Muskegon, Grand Rapid to Big Rapids or there abouts.

I am currently living in gun owner's paradise also known as New Hampshire. Great place to shoot, plenty of ranges and clubs and nobody can push a gun law through the legislature. But it's time to change my zip code and I need some help on what to expect

I am an old time reloader 45 to 50 years or more and have lots of equipment and gear. Quit shooting the high demand sports like IPSC but still shoot Bullseye rimfire and centerfire, some plates, but also into black powder silhouette long range and really really need a nice covered rifle range with 200 yards if possible but 100 in a pinch. I load a lot and do some wildcats and load development so need a place to hang out and hopefully find others of my type. Also need at least one good shop who handles supplies — real supplies and parts.

I am all ears from anybody in this part of the country and hoping this move will not be a disappointment.

Thanks and regards
 
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Things will be a little more stringent than you may be used to.

Having said that, we are a "shall carry" and "castle doctrine" state. We have a very large population of hunters, sport shooters and CPL holders.

You will find many like-minded individuals, a lot of gun clubs, and a few better than average gunsmiths and gun shops scattered all over the state. ["Williams Gun Sight" on the east side, near Flint/Grand Blanc has a pretty extensive parts/supplies list...but limited by supply right now, and much as anyone else!] Most, if not all of my State Trooper and sheriff friends are staunch believers in 2A rights.

The west side of Michigan is quite conservative, and their voters are the main reason that we have a Republican governor this time around.

As to the state, and having lived in Maine, you will not be disappointed in what Michigan has to offer as far as the outdoors. The beaches along the west coast will pleasantly surprise you. Winter is similar to New England, but the snow is a little "drier," not usually the heavy wet stuff you see near the Atlantic seaboard.

We are an unusually handsome and intelligent people, too.:D

I don't think you will be disappointed.

Len
 
Len said:
Things will be a little more stringent than you may be used to.

Having said that, we are a "shall carry" and "castle doctrine" state. We have a very large population of hunters, sport shooters and CPL holders.

You will find many like-minded individuals, a lot of gun clubs, and a few better than average gunsmiths and gun shops scattered all over the state. ["Williams Gun Sight" on the east side, near Flint/Grand Blanc has a pretty extensive parts/supplies list...but limited by supply right now, and much as anyone else!] Most, if not all of my State Trooper and sheriff friends are staunch believers in 2A rights.

The west side of Michigan is quite conservative, and their voters are the main reason that we have a Republican governor this time around.

As to the state, and having lived in Maine, you will not be disappointed in what Michigan has to offer as far as the outdoors. The beaches along the west coast will pleasantly surprise you. Winter is similar to New England, but the snow is a little "drier," not usually the heavy wet stuff you see near the Atlantic seaboard.

We are an unusually handsome and intelligent people, too.:D

I don't think you will be disappointed.

Len
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. So it sounds like a state I can abide and continue to enjoy my shooting sports. Meteorological weather I can deal with, it is the political weather that I was worried about. It's a big state with plenty of room to get about so I guess I will find out how.

Regards
 
You can find info on a lot of clubs and ranges on the MCRGO website.
Go to www.mcrgo.org and look for "Clubs And Ranges" or "Places To
Shoot". Don't recall which it is.

I'm from the U.P., but have shot on a couple of good ranges downstate. Know of others but have not been able to get to them.

There is quite an active club in Port Huron and near Hillsdale. Cadillac and Gaylord ranges have listed rifle and bowling pin matches. It seems that I've heard of some active clubs near Lansing also.

Lots of shooting and hunting in the Upper Peninsula.
Have not seen it myself but have heard that Jay's Sporting Goods in
Claire currently has reloading supplies on the shelf.
 
All your handguns (modern centerfire) will have to be registered. No exceptions. If you want to carry a concealed pistol, you'll need to apply for the Michigan CPL.

I live outside of Detroit, and I don't go into the city unless absolutely necessary. We have several clubs in the southeast Michigan, and they're most all nice facilities. My club is about 25 miles west of Detroit.

On the "sunset" side of the state, Lake Michigan looks like the ocean, especially when the winds are westerly. The "sunrise" side of the state is very nice also.
 
Oh for crying out loud. Come to Detroit and see MI like a native does. I will give you the grand tour and can almost promise you will make it out of the city alive....
 
Dennis The B said:
All your handguns (modern centerfire) will have to be registered. No exceptions. If you want to carry a concealed pistol, you'll need to apply for the Michigan CPL.

I live outside of Detroit, and I don't go into the city unless absolutely necessary. We have several clubs in the southeast Michigan, and they're most all nice facilities. My club is about 25 miles west of Detroit.

On the "sunset" side of the state, Lake Michigan looks like the ocean, especially when the winds are westerly. The "sunrise" side of the state is very nice also.
Click to expand...

Okay you just said something that has my attention x 10 . All centerfire handguns have to be regisitered ! Not sure what this means but of course I will try to find out but this sounds like the kind of **** I was afraid of. Registered by whom and why ? What about guns that I have owned for forty years or more with no paperwork trail ? Am I supposed to transport my guns to some police station for them to record or what ?

Seriously concerned
 
garbler said:
Okay you just said something that has my attention x 10 . All centerfire handguns have to be regisitered ! Not sure what this means but of course I will try to find out but this sounds like the kind of **** I was afraid of. Registered by whom and why ? What about guns that I have owned for forty years or more with no paperwork trail ? Am I supposed to transport my guns to some police station for them to record or what ?

Seriously concerned
Click to expand...

New purchases (rimfire handguns too) are recorded on a Pistol Sales Record. One copy to the LGS, one to the owner, two to the city or township police/sheriff. They forward one of their copies to the Michigan State Police.
 
Only new purchase handguns are recorded via purchase permit (private sale) and on the federal forms, new sale from an FFL.
You don't need to register the guns you already own.
I was born and raised here. There's worse places to live.
Right now the R's are running the state and it's gun friendly.
 
moosedog said:
Only new purchase handguns are recorded via purchase permit (private sale) and on the federal forms, new sale from an FFL.
You don't need to register the guns you already own.
I was born and raised here. There's worse places to live.
Right now the R's are running the state and it's gun friendly.
Click to expand...

You just told me something that I wanted to hear. I thought perhaps I was understanding the state had a gun registration data base for all handguns. But if it is for transfers or purchases then no problem and no different than anybody else

What a relief
 
You make it sound like you are moving to CA. I suggest you don't talk to people, cause you sound like a _________.

Maybe you will be popular, you can teach people what reloading is.

They will be astonished at your boomstick.
 
I'd rather live in an area with more restrictive gun laws than an area with Michigan weather.......In fact, I'd give up some gun rights to have a live with a Michigan cost of living in southern Cali.
 
MaximumLawman said:
I'd rather live in an area with more restrictive gun laws than an area with Michigan weather.......In fact, I'd give up some gun rights to have a live with a Michigan cost of living in southern Cali.
Click to expand...
They are counting on people like you.

How did CA get so screwed up?
 
MaximumLawman said:
I'd rather live in an area with more restrictive gun laws than an area with Michigan weather.......In fact, I'd give up some gun rights to have a live with a Michigan cost of living in southern Cali.
Click to expand...

I don't get why people always slam Michigan for the weather. Our winters are no worse than a lot of the rest of the country. In fact, this year (even the past few years) wasn't nearly as bad as most of the plains states.
 
As long as the weather keeps people out of the UP, im all for it. You can have elbow to elbow bumper to bumper, trade that for sñow any day. Gods country!

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2
 
Ya I from the UP, and spend alot of time there. I am all for people being afraid of bears and snow.
 
I'm glad to hear that one fewer immigrant is going to Arizona, and that there will be one more contributor to Michigan's Robin Hood economic model. Do yourself, and the rest of us, a favor by joining, directly, or through membership in an affiliated organization, MUCC (Michigan United Conservation Clubs), the gold standard for statewide sportsman's organizations, and always among the shining stars of National Wildlife Federation's affiliates, and always admirably, knowledgeably, and competently represented at NWF conventions. This is a politically savvy organization that should be the pride of Michigan sportsmen, shooters, and outdoorsmen, and the model for similar organizations.
 
moosedog said:
Only new purchase handguns are recorded via purchase permit (private sale) and on the federal forms, new sale from an FFL.
You don't need to register the guns you already own.
I was born and raised here. There's worse places to live.
Right now the R's are running the state and it's gun friendly.
Click to expand...

I would challenge this as being bad info. All pistols (center or rimfire) must be registered by the state.
 
garbler said:
Okay you just said something that has my attention x 10 . All centerfire handguns have to be regisitered ! Not sure what this means but of course I will try to find out but this sounds like the kind of **** I was afraid of. Registered by whom and why ? What about guns that I have owned for forty years or more with no paperwork trail ? Am I supposed to transport my guns to some police station for them to record or what ?

Seriously concerned
Click to expand...

I erred when I mentioned only center-fire pistols. According to MCL 28.422, all pistols must be registered. Here is the link to the law.
Michigan Legislature - Section 28.422
 
As noted, Michigan's one negative is that there is mandatory handgun registration. It's a rather simple process of turning in copies of purchase receipts to your local police or sheriffs office. From there it's then passed on to the Michigan State Police.

There is good news on two fronts. Good news one is that there is legislation in process to rescind this requirement and it probably would have happened this year if Newtown didn't happen. Good news number two is that the Michigan State Police Commandant has stated that these records will be destroyed before they would be turned over to the Feds and the current Attorney General has said he will back this up. These are records intended for Michigan ONLY and the current administration claims they'll insure it stays that way.

Bad news is these are claims of politicians, so who knows if they really mean it or if their replacements will maintain this policy. More bad news is that any pro gun legislation will likely be off the table for 5 years at best due to Newtown, so I don't see any chance of registration being rescinded in the near term.
 
loveMD said:
As long as the weather keeps people out of the UP, im all for it. You can have elbow to elbow bumper to bumper, trade that for sñow any day. Gods country!

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

What he said, stay away from the UP, there is nothing of interest to members of this forum north of the bridge. Plus the people are the most anti gun rights I have ever seen. It's like a little CA but without the weather, and your surrounded by Canadians...... Think he will buy it?
 
If you are born after 1946 some of your pension income will be taxed. This is a new thing in Michigan that our *** governor came up with.

Other than that, you will fit in well here!
 
moosedog said:
Only new purchase handguns are recorded via purchase permit (private sale) and on the federal forms, new sale from an FFL.
You don't need to register the guns you already own.
I was born and raised here. There's worse places to live.
Right now the R's are running the state and it's gun friendly.
Click to expand...

This is why we tell people to NEVER ask a LEO for leagle advice. All modern handguns must be registered. To register your handguns go to your local police or S.O. and ask for a purchase permit for each handgun, take them home fill them out as buyer and seller and mail or drop off to the local S.O.
 
garbler said:
Okay you just said something that has my attention x 10 . All centerfire handguns have to be regisitered ! Not sure what this means but of course I will try to find out but this sounds like the kind of **** I was afraid of. Registered by whom and why ? What about guns that I have owned for forty years or more with no paperwork trail ? Am I supposed to transport my guns to some police station for them to record or what ?

Seriously concerned
Click to expand...

Paranoid much?

Michigan's gun laws are fine, it's a great state for hunting/outdoorsman activities, and there's great views and towns everywhere. Grand Rapids is a very area with some great microbreweries (one of the top 10 beer cities in the US) and plenty of other local gems. Yes our handguns are registered, and a new law passed this year saying that registrations are now managed by the state police rather than the county level. CPLs are available and make life much easier, but there's worse states.

And people need to get over their fear of Detroit..yes there's issues with it but but big city doesn't have them. I grew up in the suburbs north of it and anytime I'm downstate I go there for a sporting event, the Eastern Market, or even just to grab a couple coney dogs from Lafeyette Coney Island (way better than American IMO). Just don't be an idiot down there and you'll be okay.

As said, the west side along Lake Michigan have some beautiful beaches and sunsets, and many of the cities are great (G.R., Grand Haven, Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, Manistee). The northern lower peninsula has great hunting and fishing, and the UP is a pristine place all it's own (trolls can stay below the bridge, we like our quiet peninsula).

I'm not going to talk about the politics of the state (since it's a banned topic anyways...) but if you're already concerned about it, than you're coming to this state for the wrong reasons and with the wrong attitude..you could probably commute from South Bend if you're that worried.
 
I stand corrected, the law is still on the books. Hopefully it will be changed before you get here.
Most PDs don't enforce it but better be safe than sorry.
 
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