About Handgun Training in Michigan

The Great Lakes divide Michigan into two peninsulas, but citizens of the Wolverine State feel united all the same. They love the thousands of miles of Great Lakes shoreline and take pride in serving as home to Motor City. With the Porcupine Mountains in the Superior Upland and farming plains in the Lower Peninsula, Michigan has something to offer everyone. Citizens also hold diverse views about handgun ownership, and Michigan's handgun training laws respect the safety concerns of all.

  1. Features

    • Michigan handgun training strives to keep Wolverine State residents safe. To obtain a concealed pistol license (CPL), you must take a basic training course that meets the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement standards. These standards include basic safety, ammunition and shooting fundamentals, firearms law, concealed pistol law and how to avoid a criminal attack, according to the Michigan State Police website. The training course must last at least eight hours, with three hours devoted to shooting at a pistol range.

    Types

    • As a Michigan handgun owner, you bear several types of responsibility and handgun training addresses each of them. Home safety teaches you how to store your guns out of the reach of children, while basic safety teaches you proper transport, gun handling and use. Legal training helps you stay within the bounds of the law, such as not carrying your pistol into taverns, courthouses or schools or while intoxicated, according to the Michigan State Police website. You will also learn your legal liability for use of force or for improper storing or carrying of your weapon. Finally, legal training addresses your obligations when interacting with law enforcement, including disclosure to the police about your concealed handgun, according to the Michigan State Police website.

    Significance

    • Between July 2008 and June 30, 2009, the state of Michigan issued 66,446 concealed pistol permits, according to the Michigan State Police. Without handgun training, the state would have no way to ensure thousands of newly minted CPL license holders will use their handguns in a safe and lawful manner.

    Misconceptions

    • Many people mistakenly believe you need a permit to "open carry" a pistol in Michigan, but that is not the case, according to a 2008 Michigan State Police "Legal Update." In Michigan, you may "openly carry" a pistol with no concealed permit, so long as you can legally own a handgun in the state and comply with all applicable laws.

    Warning

    • Michigan handgun training only starts you on your journey to responsible, safe gun ownership. Practicing with your pistol at a local range will help you develop better marksmanship and safety skills. You may also need to catch up with changes in the law so you do not inadvertently carry your pistol into a newly restricted area.