Another Michigan UZI question.

[Nemesis_318]

Ok, first off, I am not trying to do anything illegal or shady. I am trying to avoid a potential headache.

I am going to purchase a Vector UZI with 18" barrel. The 18" barrel is necessary with the collapsable stock to comply with Michigan's crazy gun laws. This gun will have to be registered as a pistol because it is over 26" folded and less than 30" folded. Any rifle in Michigan that falls between 26" and 30" at its shortest configuration must be registered as a pistol.

My question is, when I take it in to the police department to get it registered, I am worried I will get someone that is not 100% familiar with the gun laws and see the stock on it and think it's something illegal and I will end up staying their all day sorting this out. Should I/would I/could I just take the collapsible stock off when I take it to the PD for registration? Without a stock there will be no argument that it is there for pistol registration. My thoughts are this will just make the whole process easier on everyone.

[tonyayo]

Uh, I live in CA - the gun laws here are much worse then Michigan, but if I were you - I would go on a Michigan gun fourm and ask. For CA we have CalGuns.net - But once a reciever is regesterd as a long gun I do not think it can be restered again as a pistol. But I might be wrong.

[prebans]

I'm well familiar with the BS MI gun laws cause those with folding stocks.

Speak with a dealer who stocks Uzis, folding AKs, etc. They might be able to offer you some advice.

You can also go to Arfcom's Michigan "Hometown Forum" and ask for advice.

Mike

[suka5168]

Taking off the stock on a "Rifle" is a violation of Federal law, You should ask someone in Michigan, familiar with the Uzi and its Crazy Laws.

[Nemesis_318]

Taking off the stock on a "Rifle" is a violation of Federal law, You should ask someone in Michigan, familiar with the Uzi and its Crazy Laws.

Where is the wording for this law?

Does the state have jurisdiction over the feds here? It seems that the Michigan law is stricter than the federal law for rifle length. But as soon as I pick this gun up from the dealer it is considered a pistol in Michigan as I will have to get a pistol purchase permit from the PD before I pick it up if it is to be registered as a pistol.

But I see the problem may be that Michigan considers it a pistol and the feds consider it a rifle so does one law supercede another and why does my head feel like it is going to explode?

Another thought just occurred to me, if you take the folding stock off, isn't it going to be under 26" even with the 18" barrel which would not be considered a rifle by the feds? Will removing the stock shorten it enough to change the federal classification from rifle to pistol?

[tonyayo]

Why wait so your going to have a pistol with a 16" barrel? I think you need to brush up on your laws because that does not make much sense. If you were able to do that then all hand guns in Michegal would have to have 16" barrel and I can tell you that almost none do.

[suka5168]

Tonyayo,
Michigan is one of the few States that require any firearm to be measured with it stock folded or in its shortest version......anything that fails to make that length is considered in "Michigan to be a pistol" regardless of federal laws.
ie an uzi with a standard barrel and a folding stock is "pistol" the same uzi with a wood stock is a "rifle"

[Nemesis_318]

Why wait so your going to have a pistol with a 16" barrel? I think you need to brush up on your laws because that does not make much sense. If you were able to do that then all hand guns in Michegal would have to have 16" barrel and I can tell you that almost none do.


You can brush up on all the gun laws you want, it still won't make sense. Gotta love gun laws.

[Trebor]

Should I/would I/could I just take the collapsible stock off when I take it to the PD for registration? Without a stock there will be no argument that it is there for pistol registration. My thoughts are this will just make the whole process easier on everyone.

Don't take the stock off. You'll be causing more problems then you solve. Just make sure the gun is at least 26" with the stock folded. Most police agencies are familiar with the idea that rifles between 26" and 30" have to be registered as "pistols" and shouldn't give you too much hassle about it.

[Nemesis_318]

Alright, thanks for the advice everyone.

[Jmacken37]

Michigan State Police's take on the issue:

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3. Do rifles or shotguns with collapsible/folding stocks have to be registered in Michigan?

MCL 750.222 Yes, provided the rifle or shotgun is 30 inches or less in overall length with the stock collapsed/folded but at least 26 inches and the barrel length is at least 16 inches and 18 inches respectively. Attorney General's opinion #6280: if the firearm is less than 26 inches in overall length or the barrel is less than 16 or 18 inches respectively, the firearm is considered a short-barreled rifle or shotgun and is illegal to possess. MCL 750.224d There is an exception for short-barreled shotguns and short-barreled rifles which the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has found to be a curio, relic, antique, museum piece, or collector's item not likely to be used as a weapon.



The possessor must comply with Section 2 (License to Purchase) and Section 9 (Safety Inspection Certificate/registration) of Act 372.

http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1586_27094-10953--,00.html#Concealed_Pistol_License__CCW_Permit____R enewal

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My take on the issue is that as long as the barrel is at least 16" and the folded length is at least 26", you are good to go. You still need to register the gun as a pistol with the state unless the folded length is greater than 30". However, if the folded length is less than 26" you have violated our lovely state's SBR/S law. Why not just get a wood stock for your uzi carbine and skip the folding stock?

Jake

[M5NSX]

Since the recent opinion allows transferable MG's and your local police chief signs off on the transfer, I say that the weapon is registered with the BATFE and there is no need to do the pistol registration. When I got my MP5 back in April, I didn't register it as a pistol. (I also have several assault rifles with folding stocks that would are under 30" folded-never registered.)They made copies of my form 4 and have since signed off for an FNC sear. Don't worry about it.

Now that AG Mike Cox was re-elected, we need our opinion on suppressors!!

[Jmacken37]

M5NSX,

You are correct on the MG issue. I believe the gun Nemesis_318 refers to is NOT a MG and thus the issue on overall length and barrel length applies. Bummer for him!

I hate you for owning an MP5. One of my dream/win the lotto guns!

Jake

[M5NSX]

M5NSX,

You are correct on the MG issue. I believe the gun Nemesis_318 refers to is NOT a MG and thus the issue on overall length and barrel length applies. Bummer for him!

I hate you for owning an MP5. One of my dream/win the lotto guns!

Jake


You're right!! I was assuming it was a FA uzi. I would then register it as a pistol. He should get a FA uzi as he will want that capability once he gets the semi or shoots someone's full auto version.

Nemesis-don't miss out on the opportunity to get a FA weapon in MI. Make the purchase you will not be sorry!!

[peacekeeper1961]

I live in Michigan and own an UZI. Prior to purchase I read the old AG's "opinion" on the Michigan State Police website. This opinion, referred to in this forum, is from several years ago and was not given by the current AG. An opinion is just that, an opinion, it is not a law. If you ask law enforcement, prosecutors, and gun dealers, they all have their own opinion of the AG's opinion. During my research I was total everything from it's totally illegal, it has to be registered, to it's a rifle and is legal and does not have to be registered. At this point it appears it is like a lot of other debates. You can own a UZI carbine and it does not need to be registered until a judge tells you otherwise.