Detroit City Wire

Senator Joseph Bellino has introduced a bill in Lansing, Michigan, as part of a legislative package aimed at allowing responsible adults to carry concealed firearms without needing a special license. This proposal is intended to ease the process for law-abiding citizens who wish to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

"Michigan’s concealed carry laws force people to jump through unnecessary hoops and pay bureaucratic fees simply for the ability to exercise their constitutional rights," stated Bellino, R-Monroe. He added that the proposed legislation would "scrap our burdensome concealed carry law and support responsible gun owners who wish to safely defend themselves and their loved ones."

Under current Michigan law, residents must complete a state-approved pistol training course, submit fingerprints to a state database, and pay an application fee of $100 to receive a concealed pistol license (CPL). The CPL expires after five years, requiring holders to pay $115 for renewal.

The new legislative package includes Senate Bills 406–410. These bills aim to repeal the existing requirement for obtaining a CPL for individuals not prohibited from possessing a pistol. If enacted, these changes would allow concealed carry without a license in areas where open carry or CPL holders are currently permitted.

If passed into law, Michigan would join 29 other states with similar constitutional carry laws. The bills also propose repealing requirements for military members and retired law enforcement officers in good standing to obtain a CPL. Additionally, they seek to eliminate safe zones and repeal transportation requirements related to firearms for CPL holders while removing sentencing guidelines associated with CPLs.