The Michigan House today approved state Rep. Beau LaFave’s bipartisan measure giving Michiganders greater personal freedom and protecting them from unreasonable prosecution.
LaFave’s plan would allow individuals to transport uncased, loaded long-barreled firearms on private land using any kind of vehicle. The same freedoms are already permitted in Michigan for pistols, crossbows and slingshots.
Any person transporting a loaded long-barreled firearm under current Michigan law could be imprisoned up to 90 days and fined up to $500. LaFave’s legislation would remove this violation, protecting law-abiding citizens from unfair government overreach.
“The government has no business in how I transport and carry out my constitutional right to bear arms on my own private property,” said LaFave of Iron Mountain. “Private property rights are in place for a reason and Michigan should be promoting greater personal freedom for long-barreled firearms as it does for handguns and bows. The entire notion of it being safer to transport an encased, unloaded rifle is ridiculous. Most firearm injuries occur from continually unloading and reloading. It’s well past time Michigan adopts this common-sense criminal justice reform and bring parity to pistol- and long-barreled firearm regulations.”
LaFave said his plan is beneficial to responsible, law-abiding citizens, including farmers looking to better protect their livestock and hunters with disabilities.
House Bill 4331 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
