Know the Laws: Michigan
UPDATED October 23, 2012
WomensLaw.org strongly recommends that you get help from an organization in your area for specific advice. To find an agency, please go to the MI Where to Find Help page.
- Basic Info
- Guns and Domestic Relationship Personal Protection Orders
- Guns and Criminal Convictions
- More Information and Where to Get Help
Basic Info
back to topI am a victim of domestic violence and my abuser has a gun. Do I have legal options for getting the gun away from my abuser?
Yes. If you have a PPO against your abuser, or if your abuser has been convicted of a felony or domestic violence misdemeanor, then Federal law states that it is illegal for your abuser to buy, own or have a gun in their possession.*
In addition, MI state law says that a person cannot have a license to carry a concealed pistol if:
- s/he has been convicted of a felony,
- s/he has been convicted of certain misdemeanors within the past 3 or 8 years (depending on the crime),
- is subject to an active PPO,
- has been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces, or
- has been declared mentally incompetent.** (There are many other reasons why a person can be denied a license to carry a concealed pistol that are not mentioned here. Please see our MI Legal Statutes page.)
Note: There are certain requirements that your PPO must meet for it to qualify under Federal law. See the next question to read more about what those requirements are.
If you are not sure if your abuser has been convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor, see What crimes are considered domestic violence misdemeanors?
To read the definition of a felony, see What is the definition of a felony?
* 18 USC Sec. 922(g)(8); 18 USC Sec. 922(g)(9)
** M.C.L.A. § 28.425b(7)