- October 30, 2024
- Gun Law
A new Michigan law meant to improve funding for schools and keep students safe may backfire by infringing on people’s constitutional rights to own and carry guns.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 5503 into law on Oct. 10, 2024. While the law designates $125 million in funding for Michigan schools, it also allocates $1 million to support an anonymous tipline students can use to report improperly stored firearms that minors can access. Another part of the law provides funds for schools to develop and distribute educational materials to teach students about safely storing firearms and how to report suspected violations.
The tipline provision has generated concerns among gun owners and gun rights advocacy groups. An NRA press release says, “The expedited pace and the silencing of opposition when the bill came up for a floor vote underscores the reality that this was a political move and another attack on gun owners.” The release also notes that reports to the tipline could lead to unjustified interactions between the police and gun owners, as well as unwarranted searches of people’s homes.
Michigan’s Safe Storage Law
As of February 2024, Michigan’s Safe Storage Law imposes new requirements on gun owners to prevent minors from accessing and using firearms. Anyone who stores or leaves a gun in a premises under their control must take one or both of the following steps if they know or reasonably should know a minor is or likely will be present:
- Store the gun in a locked container or box.
- Keep the gun unloaded and locked so no one other than the owner or an authorized party can use it.
Furthermore, anyone who enters another person’s premises and stores a gun there or leaves the gun unattended must take one or more of the following actions if they know or reasonably should know a minor is or likely will be present:
- Store the gun in their car using a locked container or box, or keep the gun unloaded and locked with a locking device so no one other than the owner or an authorized party can use it. The gun’s owner must also lock their car before entering the premises.
- Store the gun in a locked container or box inside the premises.
- Keep the gun unloaded and locked with a locking device on the premises so no one other than the owner or an authorized party can use it.
The penalties for violating this law vary significantly depending on what happens if a minor gets hold of an improperly stored firearm. At the low end, offenders could face up to 93 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. At the high end, if a minor obtains an improperly stored firearm and kills themselves or someone else, the penalties include up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Call John Freeman If Someone Accuses You of Improperly Storing a Firearm
Preventing accidental gun injuries and deaths is important, but safety should not come at the expense of your Second Amendment rights. Attorney John Freeman is a former federal prosecutor who proudly defends the gun rights of Michigan residents and has handled many cases involving alleged gun storage violations. If someone reports you through the new tipline, call the Law Office of John Freeman or complete our contact form for a free consultation.