TRANSPORTING FIREARM/BOW & ARROW H.B. 5408 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5408 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Tim Moore
House Committee: Conservation, Forestry, and Outdoor Recreation
Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow a person to carry, transport, or possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow without a hunting license under conditions that currently apply only to a person who is at or going to or from a shooting or archery range.
The Act allows a person to carry, transport, or possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow without a hunting license while at or going to and from a recognized rifle or target range, trap, or skeet-shooting ground, or archery range if, while being transported, the firearm is unloaded in both barrel and magazine and either enclosed in a case or carried in the trunk of a vehicle; or the bow or crossbow is unstrung, enclosed in a case, or carried in the trunk.
The bill would delete the reference to being at or going to or from a recognized rifle or target range, trap, or skeet-shooting ground, or archery range. The bill also would refer to a location that was not readily accessible to any occupant of a vehicle, rather than the trunk. Additionally, the bill would permit a person to carry, transport, or possess a slingshot without a hunting license if it were unstrung, enclosed in a case, or carried in a vehicle in a location that was not readily accessible to the vehicle's occupants.
Further, under the bill, various license requirements under Part 435 would be subject to these provisions regarding the transportation of a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow. Under the requirements in question, a person must have a license to hunt deer or elk with a firearm when transporting or possessing various types of firearms during the open firearm season for deer or elk; have a license issued under Part 435 when carrying or transporting a firearm, slingshot, bow and arrow, or crossbow in an area frequented by wild animals; carry and exhibit a hunting or fishing license if the person is hunting or fishing, or is in possession of firearms or hunting or fishing apparatus in an area frequented by wild animals and fish; and have a valid firearm license with an unused kill tag when carrying or possessing afield various types of firearms or a bow and arrow during firearm deer season.
MCL 324.43510 et al. Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 9-13-06 Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb5408/0506