HOUSE BILL No. 4876

 

 

August 16, 2017, Introduced by Reps. Cole, Tedder, Miller, Hoitenga, Hornberger, Alexander, Noble, Howrylak, Lower, Lucido, Dianda, LaFave, Phelps, Chatfield and Chirkun and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

     A bill to amend 1927 PA 372, entitled

 

"An act to regulate and license the selling, purchasing,

possessing, and carrying of certain firearms, gas ejecting devices,

and electro-muscular disruption devices; to prohibit the buying,

selling, or carrying of certain firearms, gas ejecting devices, and

electro-muscular disruption devices without a license or other

authorization; to provide for the forfeiture of firearms and

electro-muscular disruption devices under certain circumstances; to

provide for penalties and remedies; to provide immunity from civil

liability under certain circumstances; to prescribe the powers and

duties of certain state and local agencies; to prohibit certain

conduct against individuals who apply for or receive a license to

carry a concealed pistol; to make appropriations; to prescribe

certain conditions for the appropriations; and to repeal all acts

and parts of acts inconsistent with this act,"

 

by amending sections 1, 12, and 15 (MCL 28.421, 28.432, and

 

28.435), section 1 as amended by 2016 PA 301, section 12 as amended

 

by 2010 PA 209, and section 15 as added by 2000 PA 265.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 1. (1) As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Corrections officer of the department of corrections"

 


means a state correctional officer as that term is defined in

 

section 2 of the correctional officers' training act of 1982, 1982

 

PA 415, MCL 791.502.

 

     (b) "Felony" means, except as otherwise provided in this

 

subdivision, that term as defined in section 1 of chapter I of the

 

code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 761.1, or a violation

 

of a law of the United States or another state that is designated

 

as a felony or that is punishable by death or by imprisonment for

 

more than 1 year. Felony does not include a violation of a penal

 

law of this state that is expressly designated as a misdemeanor.

 

     (c) "Firearm" means any weapon which will, is designed to, or

 

may readily be converted to expel a projectile by action of an

 

explosive.

 

     (d) "Firearms records" means any form, information, or record

 

required for submission to a government agency under sections 2,

 

2a, 2b, and 5b, or any form, permit, or license issued by a

 

government agency under this act.

 

     (e) "Local corrections officer" means that term as defined in

 

section 2 of the local corrections officers training act, 2003 PA

 

125, MCL 791.532.

 

     (f) "Misdemeanor" means a violation of a penal law of this

 

state or violation of a local ordinance substantially corresponding

 

to a violation of a penal law of this state that is not a felony or

 

a violation of an order, rule, or regulation of a state agency that

 

is punishable by imprisonment or a fine that is not a civil fine,

 

or both.

 

     (g) "Parole or probation officer of the department of


corrections" means any individual employed by the department of

 

corrections to supervise felony probationers or parolees or that

 

individual's immediate supervisor.

 

     (h) "Peace officer" means, except as otherwise provided in

 

this act, an individual who is employed as a law enforcement

 

officer, as that term is defined under section 2 of the Michigan

 

commission on law enforcement standards act, 1965 PA 203, MCL

 

28.602, by this state or another state, a political subdivision of

 

this state or another state, or the United States, and who is

 

required to carry a firearm in the course of his or her duties as a

 

law enforcement officer.

 

     (i) "Person" means an individual, trust, partnership,

 

corporation, association, or other legal entity.

 

     (j) (i) "Pistol" means a loaded or unloaded firearm that is 26

 

inches or less in length, or a loaded or unloaded firearm that by

 

its construction and appearance conceals it as a firearm.

 

     (k) (j) "Purchaser" means a person who that receives a pistol

 

from another person by purchase or gift.

 

     (l) (k) "Reserve peace officer", "auxiliary officer", or

 

"reserve officer" means, except as otherwise provided in this act,

 

an individual authorized on a voluntary or irregular basis by a

 

duly authorized police agency of this state or a political

 

subdivision of this state to act as a law enforcement officer, who

 

is responsible for the preservation of the peace, the prevention

 

and detection of crime, and the enforcement of the general criminal

 

laws of this state, and who is otherwise eligible to possess a

 

firearm under this act.


     (m) (l) "Retired corrections officer of the department of

 

corrections" means an individual who was a corrections officer of

 

the department of corrections and who retired in good standing from

 

his or her employment as a corrections officer of the department of

 

corrections.

 

     (n) (m) "Retired federal law enforcement officer" means an

 

individual who was an officer or agent employed by a law

 

enforcement agency of the United States government whose primary

 

responsibility was enforcing laws of the United States, who was

 

required to carry a firearm in the course of his or her duties as a

 

law enforcement officer, and who retired in good standing from his

 

or her employment as a federal law enforcement officer.

 

     (o) (n) "Retired parole or probation officer of the department

 

of corrections" means an individual who was a parole or probation

 

officer of the department of corrections and who retired in good

 

standing from his or her employment as a parole or probation

 

officer of the department of corrections.

 

     (p) (o) "Retired police officer" or "retired law enforcement

 

officer" means an individual who was a police officer or law

 

enforcement officer who was licensed or certified as described in

 

the Michigan commission on law enforcement standards act, 1965 PA

 

203, MCL 28.601 to 28.615, and retired in good standing from his or

 

her employment as a police officer or law enforcement officer. A

 

police officer or law enforcement officer retired in good standing

 

if he or she receives a pension or other retirement benefit for his

 

or her service as a police officer or law enforcement officer or

 

actively maintained a Michigan commission on law enforcement


standards or equivalent state certification or license for not less

 

than 10 consecutive years.

 

     (q) (p) "Seller" means a person who that sells or gives a

 

pistol to another person.

 

     (r) (q) "State court judge" means a judge of the district

 

court, circuit court, probate court, or court of appeals or justice

 

of the supreme court of this state who is serving either by

 

election or appointment.

 

     (s) (r) "State court retired judge" means a judge or justice

 

described in subdivision (q) (r) who is retired, or a retired judge

 

of the recorders court.

 

     (2) A person may lawfully own, possess, carry, or transport as

 

a pistol a firearm greater than 26 inches in length if all of the

 

following conditions apply:

 

     (a) The person registered the firearm as a pistol under

 

section 2 or 2a before January 1, 2013.

 

     (b) The person who registered the firearm as described in

 

subdivision (a) has maintained registration of the firearm since

 

January 1, 2013 without lapse.

 

     (c) The person possesses a copy of the license or record

 

issued to him or her under section 2 or 2a.

 

     (3) A person who satisfies all of the conditions listed under

 

subsection (2) nevertheless may elect to have the firearm not be

 

considered to be a pistol. A person who makes the election under

 

this subsection shall notify the department of state police of the

 

election in a manner prescribed by that department.

 

     Sec. 12. (1) Section 2 does not apply to any of the following:


     (a) A police or correctional agency of the United States or of

 

this state or any subdivision of this state.

 

     (b) The United States army, air force, navy, or marine

 

corps.Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps.

 

     (c) An organization authorized by law to purchase or receive

 

weapons from the United States or from this state.

 

     (d) The national guard, armed forces reserves, National Guard,

 

Armed Forces Reserves, or other duly authorized military

 

organization.

 

     (e) A member of an entity or organization described in

 

subdivisions (a) through to (d) for a pistol while engaged in the

 

course of his or her duties with that entity or while going to or

 

returning from those duties.

 

     (f) A United States citizen holding a license to carry a

 

pistol concealed upon his or her person issued by another state.

 

     (g) The regular and ordinary possession and transportation of

 

a pistol as merchandise by an authorized agent of a person licensed

 

to manufacture firearms or a licensed dealer.

 

     (h) Purchasing, owning, carrying, possessing, using, or

 

transporting an antique firearm. As used in this subdivision,

 

"antique firearm" means that term as defined in section 231a of the

 

Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.231a.

 

     (i) When present in a domicile of a person licensed to possess

 

or carry a pistol, a spouse, family member, or guest of that

 

person.

 

     (j) A person that is or has previously been approved,

 

permitted, or licensed in this state to purchase, carry, possess,


or transport a pistol.

 

     (k) (i) An individual carrying, possessing, using, or

 

transporting a pistol belonging to another individual, if the other

 

individual's possession of the pistol is authorized not prohibited

 

by law and the individual carrying, possessing, using, or

 

transporting the pistol has obtained a license under section 5b to

 

carry a concealed pistol or is exempt from licensure as provided in

 

section 12a.

 

     (2) The amendatory act that added subsection (1)(h) shall be

 

known and may be cited as the "Janet Kukuk act".

 

     Sec. 15. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), a federally

 

licensed firearms dealer shall not sell a firearm in this state

 

unless the sale includes 1 of the following:

 

     (a) A commercially available trigger lock or other device

 

designed to disable the firearm and prevent the discharge of the

 

firearm.

 

     (b) A commercially available gun case or storage container

 

that can be secured to prevent unauthorized access to the firearm.

 

     (2) This section does not apply to any of the following:

 

     (a) The sale of a firearm to a police officer or a police

 

agency.

 

     (b) The sale of a firearm to a person who presents to the

 

federally licensed firearms dealer 1 of the following:

 

     (i) A trigger lock or other device designed to disable the

 

firearm and prevent the discharge of the firearm together with a

 

copy of the purchase receipt for the federally licensed firearms

 

dealer to keep. A separate trigger lock or device and a separate


purchase receipt shall be is required for each firearm purchased.

 

     (ii) A gun case or storage container that can be secured to

 

prevent unauthorized access to the firearm together with a copy of

 

the purchase receipt for the federally licensed firearms dealer to

 

keep. A separate gun case or storage container and a separate

 

purchase receipt shall be is required for each firearm purchased.

 

     (c) The sale of an antique firearm. As used in this

 

subdivision, "antique firearm" means that term as defined in

 

section 231a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.231a.

 

     (d) The sale or transfer of a firearm if the seller is not a

 

federally licensed firearms dealer.

 

     (3) A federally licensed firearms dealer shall not sell a

 

firearm in this state unless the firearm is accompanied with, free

 

of charge, a brochure or pamphlet that includes safety information

 

on the use and storage of the firearm in a home environment.

 

     (4) Upon the sale of a firearm, a federally licensed firearms

 

dealer shall sign a statement and require the purchaser to sign a

 

statement stating that the sale is in compliance with subsections

 

(1), (2), and (3).

 

     (5) A federally licensed firearms dealer shall retain a copy

 

of the signed statements prescribed in subsection (4) and, if

 

applicable, a copy of the receipt prescribed in subsection (2)(b),

 

for at least 6 years.

 

     (6) A federally licensed firearms dealer in this state shall

 

post in a conspicuous manner at the entrances, exits, and all

 

points of sale on the premises where firearms are sold a notice

 

that says the following: "You may be criminally and civilly liable


for any harm caused by a person less than 18 years of age who

 

lawfully gains unsupervised access to your firearm if unlawfully

 

stored.".

 

     (7) A federally licensed firearms dealer is not liable for

 

damages arising from the use or misuse of a firearm if the sale

 

complies with this section, any other applicable law of this state,

 

and applicable federal law.

 

     (8) This section does not create a civil action or liability

 

for damages arising from the use or misuse of a firearm or

 

ammunition for a person, other than a federally licensed firearms

 

dealer, who produces a firearm or ammunition.

 

     (9) Subject to subsections (10) to (12), a political

 

subdivision shall not bring a civil action against any person who

 

that produces a firearm or ammunition. The authority to bring a

 

civil action under this section is reserved exclusively to the

 

state and can be brought only by the attorney general. The court

 

shall award costs and reasonable attorney fees to each defendant

 

named in a civil action filed in violation of this subsection.

 

     (10) Subject to subsection (11), subsection (9) does not

 

prohibit a civil action by a political subdivision based on 1 or

 

more of the following, which the court shall narrowly construe:

 

     (a) A breach of contract, other contract issue, or an action

 

based on a provision of the uniform commercial code, 1962 PA 174,

 

MCL 440.1101 to 440.11102, 440.9994, in which the political

 

subdivision is the purchaser and owner of the firearm or

 

ammunition.

 

     (b) Expressed or implied warranties arising from the purchase


of a firearm or ammunition by the political subdivision or the use

 

of a firearm or ammunition by an employee or agent of the political

 

subdivision.

 

     (c) A product liability, personal injury, or wrongful death

 

action when an employee or agent or property of the political

 

subdivision has been injured or damaged as a result of a defect in

 

the design or manufacture of the firearm or ammunition purchased

 

and owned by the political subdivision.

 

     (11) Subsection (10) does not allow an action based on any of

 

the following:

 

     (a) A firearm's or ammunition's inherent potential to cause

 

injury, damage, or death.

 

     (b) Failure to warn the purchaser, transferee, or user of the

 

firearm's or ammunition's inherent potential to cause injury,

 

damage, or death.

 

     (c) Failure to sell with or incorporate into the product a

 

device or mechanism to prevent a firearm or ammunition from being

 

discharged by an unauthorized person unless specifically provided

 

for by contract.

 

     (12) Subsections (9) through (11) do not create a civil

 

action.

 

     (13) Subsections (9) through (11) are intended only to clarify

 

the current status of the law in this state, are remedial in

 

nature, and, therefore, apply to a civil action pending on the

 

effective date of this act.

 

     (14) Beginning September 1, 2000, a person who violates this

 

section is guilty of a crime as follows:


     (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b) or (c), the person

 

is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more

 

than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.

 

     (b) For a second conviction, the person is guilty of a

 

misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or

 

a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.

 

     (c) For a third or subsequent conviction, the person is guilty

 

of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or

 

a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.

 

     (15) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Federally licensed firearms dealer" means a person

 

licensed under section 923 of title 18 of the United States Code,

 

18 U.S.C. USC 923.

 

     (b) "Firearm or ammunition" includes a component of a firearm

 

or ammunition.

 

     (c) "Person" means an individual, trust, partnership,

 

corporation, association, or other legal entity.

 

     (d) "Political subdivision" means a county, city, village,

 

township, charter township, school district, community college, or

 

public university or college.

 

     (e) "Produce" means to manufacture, construct, design,

 

formulate, develop standards for, prepare, process, assemble,

 

inspect, test, list, certify, give a warning or instructions

 

regarding, market, sell, advertise, package, label, distribute, or

 

transfer.