Michigan: Air Gun Reclassification Nears Final Passage

Tomorrow, at 12:00 p.m., the Michigan House Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on Senate Bill 85, the central and most important component of the Air Gun Reclassification Package.  The Air Gun Reclassification Package is a group of bills, consisting of HB 4151, HB 4152, HB 4153, HB 4154, HB 4155, HB 4156 and SB 85, which make changes to Michigan’s definition of a firearm to exclude devices that propel a projectile by air, gas or spring.  Under current Michigan law, most air guns are classified as firearms, and, as such, are subject to the same onerous regulations for their purchase, possession and transfer, as firearms.

SB 85 would align Michigan’s definition of “firearm” with the federal definition; such that “firearm” would be redefined to mean “any weapon which will, is designed to, or may be readily converted to expel a projectile by action of an explosive.”  SB 85 would then create a new definition for air guns.  Grouping air guns under the broader term “pneumatic guns,” to account for certain devices that propel projectiles by action of air, gas or spring, SB 85 would allow for certain local units of government to reasonably regulate the use and possession of “pneumatic guns;” with the exception that these devices cannot be regulated on private property where authorization is given and the possessor takes precautionary measures to ensure that the projectile remains within the bounds of the property.

As previously reported, the Michigan Senate is currently waiting for the House of Representatives to pass SB 85 before sending the entire Air Gun Reclassification Package to the Governor’s desk.  Please contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to support Senate Bill 85.

House Judiciary Committee Members:

Representative Klint Kesto (R-39), Chairman
(517) 373-1799
klintkesto@house.mi.gov  

Representative Peter Lucido (R-36), Majority Vice Chairman
(517) 373-0843
peterlucido@house.mi.gov

Representative Jeff Irwin (D-53), Minority Vice Chairman
(517) 373-2577
jeffirwin@house.mi.gov

Representative Kurt Heise (R-20)
(517) 373-3816
kurtheise@house.mi.gov

Representative Joel Johnson (R-97)
(517) 373-8962
joeljohnson@house.mi.gov

Representative Martin Howrylak (R-41)
(517) 373-1783
martinhowrylak@house.mi.gov

Representative Triston Cole (R-105)
(517) 373-0829
tristoncole@house.mi.gov

Representative Jim Runestad (R-44)
(517) 373-2616
jimrunestad@house.mi.gov

Representative Rose Mary Robinson (D-4)
(517) 373-1008
rosemaryrobinson@house.mi.gov

Representative Stephanie Chang (D-6)
(517) 373-0823
stephaniechang@house.mi.gov

Representative Vanessa  Guerra (D-95)
(517) 373-0152
vanessaguerra@house.mi.gov