According to a 2014 report, there are over 54,026 licensed gun dealers in America. These include small gun shops, big stores, outlets, and even Walmart.
Anyone who wishes to purchase a firearm needs to visit a gun store. But in order to run their business, gun store owners must follow certain legal requirements that allow them to sell weapons to civilians. Some of them are required nation-wide, while others are state-specific.
One of the main federal legal requirements is performing background checks on all people who intend to buy a gun, while state requirements might have to do with specific guns like rifles, shotguns, and other heavy weapons or how they can be carried.
How Background Checks Work
All licensed firearm dealers are obliged to run background checks on their buyers, as per the 1993 Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.
The buyer must show a piece of valid ID to the seller and fill out the ATF Form 4473. This form contains the buyer’s age, address, race, citizenship, and criminal record, information which is then sent to the FBI to be checked using their database.
The checking process is usually pretty quick, and you can expect it to be completed in a matter of minutes.
Gun stores may not sell any weapons to felons, fugitives, people with a known drug abuse problem, illegal immigrants, people under a restraining order, people with diagnosed mental illnesses, and more.
Gun Laws in Michigan
State legal requirements affect each type of guns differently. If someone wants to purchase a handgun, he or she doesn’t need a permit if buying from a federal arms dealer, but they must be 21 or older, be subjected to a background check, and complete a pistol sales record. If individual wishes to purchase a gun from a private party they do require a permit to make the transaction legal. Permits are issued locally at the county level by a county clerk.
If the handguns in question are considered antique, and they are deactivated or not made to use modern ammunition, then the procedure above is not required. These antique selection of handguns, such as old Smith & Wesson guns, can be bought and sold just like any product that is not a firearm.
Buying long guns is a bit easier and simpler than handguns. All you need to do is provide a piece of ID, be over the age of 18, and have a background check done, and you are ready to be the owner of your own personal long gun.
Michigan operates under the “stand your ground” law. This means that an individual can use deadly force against someone with no duty to retreat if the individual believes that they can prevent the murder, infliction of grievous bodily harm, or sexual assault of themselves or another person. Anyone who kills someone with a firearm under the legitimate excuse of self-defense will not face civil liability in Michigan.
Permit process
If you do need to get a permit to carry your weapon there are a few steps that you will have to go through before earning the right to legally carry your firearm. In many cases, you will probably be required to undergo a firearm training course, unless you are a veteran or active-duty military. The course will involve classes on gun safety as well as a minimum of three hours at the shooting range.
Step two is downloading the application and filling it out. You can also receive the application from your county clerk. You have to sign the application while under oath at the county clerk’s office. You must bring along identification and the certificate of certification you received at the end of your training period. There is also a fee you must incur. The clerk will provide you a receipt that you should keep.
Next, you can have your fingerprints taken for the database by the county clerk, sheriff’s office, local police agency, or any other entity that provides fingerprint services. You will be required to present the pistol application receipt to whoever is taking your prints.
For Gun Owners: Where Can You Legally Carry Your Gun?
As long as you are 18 or over, you can open carry a handgun without a permit. The firearm does have to be registered under your own name and you do have to be a Michigan citizen. People from other states must have a valid concealed carry license on their person if they want to carry their weapon in Michigan. However, the process will be a bit more complicated if you want to carry concealed, in which case you will need to get a Michigan CCW gun permit.
There are certain zones where permits are nullified, however, such as schools and hospitals. But don’t let this discourage you; if you need help getting your CCW permit, information, guides, and instructions are readily available on the internet. Just a quick search can help you get started fast.
Shopping for guns online
If you are buying a gun online the same rules should apply if you are buying from an above-board legally operated online gun store. You will have to provide all of your background check information digitally. Many times this can all be accomplished over the phone as well.
Shopping for a firearm online is great because you can find the guns you need from the comfort of your own home and background checks are performed in a neutral setting. You will also have access to a massive number of firearms from different gun manufacturers. From Sig Sauer handguns to law enforcement grade home protection weapons, you can find what you need easily online. Under certain conditions, you may even be able to take advantage of free shipping.
Summary
There are certain procedures that gun stores must perform when somebody tries to purchase a gun.
Our trained staff can help you navigate the paperwork.
That’s one of the many reasons why you need to visit our website, quite possibly the best online gun store in the world.
