By Elena Durnbaugh
Gongwer News Service
Gun groups and Michigan gun owners are arguing that the state’s firearm licensing and registration system is unconstitutional in a new lawsuit.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Michigan (Case No.1:26-cv-1850) names Attorney General Dana Nessel, Department of Police Director Colonel James Grady and several local law enforcement agencies responsible for administering license-to-purchase applications.
The Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners, Michigan Gun Owners, Michigan Open Carry and the National Rifle Association of America are listed as plaintiffs.
The complaint argues that Michigan’s licensing and reporting requirements cannot be justified under the precedence laid out in the Supreme Court case New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen. This is because, the plaintiffs argue, Michigan’s license-to-purchase structure is a de facto discretionary licensing scheme.
The evidentiary standard, which permits the issuing authority to withhold a license based
On probable cause, is unconstitutional, the lawsuit argues. Further, there is no appeals process for denied licenses and that the state’s requirement that pistols be registered and reported has no historical precedence and is facially unconstitutional.
“Michigan cannot require law-abiding citizens to obtain a discretionary government permission slip before exercising a fundamental constitutional right,” MCRGO attorney Steve Dulan said in a statement.
The suit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief block enforcement of the challenged statues and for the state to delete fire-arm ownership records.
Gongwer News Service
Gun groups and Michigan gun owners are arguing that the state’s firearm licensing and registration system is unconstitutional in a new lawsuit.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Michigan (Case No.1:26-cv-1850) names Attorney General Dana Nessel, Department of Police Director Colonel James Grady and several local law enforcement agencies responsible for administering license-to-purchase applications.
The Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners, Michigan Gun Owners, Michigan Open Carry and the National Rifle Association of America are listed as plaintiffs.
The complaint argues that Michigan’s licensing and reporting requirements cannot be justified under the precedence laid out in the Supreme Court case New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen. This is because, the plaintiffs argue, Michigan’s license-to-purchase structure is a de facto discretionary licensing scheme.
The evidentiary standard, which permits the issuing authority to withhold a license based
On probable cause, is unconstitutional, the lawsuit argues. Further, there is no appeals process for denied licenses and that the state’s requirement that pistols be registered and reported has no historical precedence and is facially unconstitutional.
“Michigan cannot require law-abiding citizens to obtain a discretionary government permission slip before exercising a fundamental constitutional right,” MCRGO attorney Steve Dulan said in a statement.
The suit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief block enforcement of the challenged statues and for the state to delete fire-arm ownership records.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
