Weapons: firearms; waiting period for firearm purchases; provide for. Amends sec. 223 of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.223).
Summary
HB 5743 amends section 223 of the Michigan Penal Code to create a mandatory waiting period for firearm purchases. Under the bill, a firearm seller could not deliver a firearm to the purchaser until at least three days after the sale is completed. A violation of this new waiting-period requirement would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.
The bill also retains and restates existing penalties related to unlawful firearm sales. It continues to make it a misdemeanor to knowingly sell a firearm without complying with the state firearm purchase application requirements, and it preserves the prohibition on selling certain firearms to minors. It further keeps in place the felony prohibition on selling firearms or ammunition to persons known to be under felony indictment or otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms under section 224f.
Impact
The bill would change Michigan law by adding a statutory three-day waiting period between completion of a firearm sale and delivery of the firearm. It would affect firearm dealers and other sellers by imposing a new criminal penalty for premature delivery, while leaving existing restrictions and penalties for unlawful sales to minors, felons, and prohibited persons in place. The measure would be codified in the Michigan Penal Code, section 223 (MCL 750.223).
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety regulation of firearm transfers rather than a broad rewrite of gun law. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented legislative debate or vote history to gauge support or opposition. The bill caption suggests the policy goal is to establish a waiting period for firearm purchases, which typically attracts interest from gun-safety advocates and concern from gun-rights supporters.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the new three-day waiting period itself, which could be viewed by supporters as a cooling-off measure and by opponents as an added burden on lawful gun purchasers and sellers. Another possible area of concern is the criminal penalty for sellers who deliver firearms too quickly, since it creates compliance obligations for retailers and private sellers. No specific lawmakers, stakeholders, or committee arguments were included in the provided materials, so any opposition or support cannot be attributed to named individuals or groups from the record here.
Weapons: firearms; certain provisions regarding weapons; repeal. Amends secs. 230, 231 & 237a of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.230 et seq.) & repeals (see bill).