Weapons: licensing; age requirement for a concealed pistol license; modify. Amends sec. 5b of 1927 PA 372 (MCL 28.425b).
HB 4586 would amend Michigan’s concealed pistol licensing law to lower the minimum age for a concealed pistol license from 21 to 18. The bill keeps the existing county-clerk application process, fingerprinting requirement, background checks, training requirement, and statutory disqualification framework, but updates the eligibility language so that an otherwise qualified 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old may apply for and receive a license. It also preserves the current emergency-license and residency provisions, including exceptions for certain applicants such as those with personal protection orders or those who already hold an out-of-state concealed pistol license when establishing Michigan residency.
The bill also reinforces the administrative structure for licensing by requiring state police verification through law-enforcement databases and the FBI, setting a 45-day deadline for issuance or denial after fingerprints are taken, and providing that the fingerprint receipt functions as a temporary concealed pistol license if the deadline is missed. It continues to require applicants to certify they are not disqualified by felony convictions, certain misdemeanors, mental-health adjudications or commitments, legal incapacity, or other firearm prohibitions, and it maintains penalties for false statements and for failing to return a revoked license. The bill leaves in place special documentation rules for certain exempt occupations and public-safety roles, such as law enforcement, corrections, judges, and security personnel.
HB 4586 would amend section 5b of the Michigan Penal Code licensing provisions, specifically MCL 28.425b, by changing the concealed pistol license age threshold from 21 to 18. That change would expand eligibility for CPLs to younger adults who meet all other statutory requirements, while leaving the rest of the licensing system largely intact. The bill would affect county clerks, the Department of State Police, and applicants by preserving the current application, fingerprinting, fee, background-check, and denial/appeal procedures, and by continuing the statutory list of disqualifying offenses and conditions.
The available voting history suggests the bill received favorable committee treatment, as it was reported with recommendation without amendment by a 7-2 vote. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate detailed arguments for or against the measure. Based on the bill text and the vote, the general sentiment appears supportive among the majority of committee members, with some opposition remaining.
The main point of contention is the policy change lowering the concealed pistol license age from 21 to 18. Supporters are likely to view the bill as expanding rights for legally eligible adults, while opponents are likely to object on public-safety grounds, especially given the bill’s allowance for younger applicants to carry concealed pistols if they satisfy the other requirements. Other potentially debated issues include the bill’s reliance on temporary licensing through fingerprint receipts if the state misses the 45-day deadline, and the breadth of the disqualifying criteria tied to mental health, criminal history, and firearm-related offenses.