New law for firearms inheritance in Mi

[Caliper]

Just sharing for those who aren't subscribed to the NRA-ILA mailing list.  Sounds like a positive change for anyone in the unfortunate situaton of having lost a loved one. 

Michigan: Governor Snyder Signs Firearm Inheritance Protection Act

Today, November 24, Governor Rick Snyder (R) signed Senate Bills 225 and 226.  Introduced by state Senator Mike Shirkey (R-16), these important bills provide long overdue and necessary protections for law-abiding individuals who receive pistols through inheritance.  Highlighting the unintentional absurdities that are often created by firearm licensing and registration schemes, SB 225 and SB 226 accomplish the following two major reforms:
•Under current law, a previously unregistered pistol passing through the inheritance process would be considered contraband.  As such, it would be subject to potential confiscation and destruction in Michigan.  Such a seizure is especially abhorrent under circumstances in which a pistol is a family heirloom or holds sentimental significance.  Once enacted, the provisions of SB 225 would recognize that firearms can have monetary and sentimental value and should be protected from government confiscation, if otherwise lawfully bequeathed or passed through intestate succession.


•Current law requires the personal representative of an estate to obtain a pistol license and register each pistol that he or she takes possession of for the sole purpose of testamentary or intestate disposition.  This places an illogical burden on the administrator or executor of an estateâ€"often an attorneyâ€"especially considering that they never have legal ownership of the pistol and are already prohibited by law from utilizing its functionality.  Once enacted, SB 225 would allow the personal representative of an estate to dispose of a pistol in accordance with Michigan law without having to needlessly submit his or her name to a government firearm database.  Furthermore, the already tedious and laborious inheritance process will be more streamlined, financially and emotionally benefiting all involved.

Senate Bills 225 and 226 will take effect in 90 days.  Using the contact information below, please contact state Senator Mike Shirkey and thank him for shepherding these important measures through the legislative process.

Senator Mike Shirkey
(517) 373-5932
MikeShirkey@senate.mi.gov

[SteelThunder]

My kids threw a little celebration when they heard this...

[Oz]

My kids threw a little celebration when they heard this...

For the money they will save in ink pens alone, they should!

I'm still willing to be an heir if it reduces the burden on them. 

[SteelThunder]

My kids threw a little celebration when they heard this...

For the money they will save in ink pens alone, they should!

I'm still willing to be an heir if it reduces the burden on them. 

Keep on talkin' Mr. "Ivegot3lastditchtype99s...andljungmansandtokarevs"

[mac66]

Not sure this is such a big deal. It is pretty easy to register a pistol (whether previously registered or not and from where ever it came from) by filling out an RI60 and turning in a copy. I understand now the executor of a will can now dispose of handguns without having to actually register them in their own name but it's not too hard for a family member to fill out a the forms. Granted the laws are so confusing and convoluted that most people don't know that. I've never heard of the state treating inherited pistols as contraband, they just want them registered.

[Graywolf]

Perhaps this isn't so much about what has been the practice in the past, but making sure it does not happen in the future under some future jurisdiction's hoplophobic application of the law of the (now) old law?  It would not be the first time a jurisdiction decided to make felons out of law-abiding citizens.

Not sure this is such a big deal. It is pretty easy to register a pistol (whether previously registered or not and from where ever it came from) by filling out an RI60 and turning in a copy. I understand now the executor of a will can now dispose of handguns without having to actually register them in their own name but it's not too hard for a family member to fill out a the forms. Granted the laws are so confusing and convoluted that most people don't know that. I've never heard of the state treating inherited pistols as contraband, they just want them registered.