By: Friedrich Seiltgen

Copyright © 2024

Liberals in the Michigan Senate have introduced Senate Bill SB 1134, which wants to regulate the color and appearance of your firearm. The bill goes after “deceptively colored firearms,” whatever those are. Not only do they want to decide what types of firearms you can own, but they also wish to control their color!

The bill, sponsored by Senator Dayna Polehanki, seeks to restrict “deceptively colored firearms.” Under the proposed law, a firearm’s exterior must primarily be state-approved colors like black, brown, dark gray, dark green, silver, steel, or nickel. Any “substantial portion” of a firearm painted in other colors would be banned. A substantial portion of a firearm is defined as more than 50% of its exterior features a non-approved color. So, it would be illegal if you wanted a patriotic-themed rifle with red, white, and blue colors covering more than 50% of the rifle.

But wait, there’s more! The bill prohibits the sale, purchase, ownership, or transportation of items described as “deceptive coloring products.” Basically, it is anything intended to modify the color of firearms, including paints, coatings, or similar materials. Since many gun owners paint their firearms with a rattle can, a can of spray paint in your garage or vehicle could be grounds for arrest. The bill also targets “covert firearms.” These are defined as firearms constructed in such a way that they are not immediately recognizable as firearms.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 224g. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an individual shall not do any of the following:

(a) Sell, purchase, transfer, own, possess, carry, or transport a deceptively colored firearm.

(b) Modify or attempt to modify a firearm to make it a deceptively colored firearm.

(c) Sell, purchase, transfer, own, possess, carry, or transport a deceptive coloring product.

(d) Sell, purchase, transfer, own, possess, carry, or transport a covert firearm.

(2) An individual who violates this section or any rule promulgated under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.

(3) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(a) The ownership or possession of a deceptively colored firearm, covert firearm, or deceptive coloring product by an individual who owns or possesses it on the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section.

  1. b) The ownership or possession of any deceptively colored firearm, covert firearm, or deceptive coloring product by an individual who receives the deceptively colored firearm, covert firearm, or deceptive coloring product by operation of law after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, so long as such the individual, no later than 14 days after receipt, does either of the following:

(i) Surrenders the deceptively colored firearm, covert firearm, or deceptive coloring product to the Department of state police for disposal.

(ii) Modifies the deceptively colored firearm or covert firearm so that it is no longer a deceptively colored firearm or covert firearm and cannot be readily converted into one.

If you own a deceptively colored firearm, the bill graciously has a grandfather clause and “allows” anyone who owns a deceptively colored firearm before the bill’s enactment to keep it. But, if you sell the weapon after enactment, you must surrender it to law enforcement or modify it to comply with the new law.

As usual, the bill’s supporters argue that banning brightly colored firearms enhances public safety, but they have no empirical data proving that. Perhaps they could just enforce existing firearms laws.

That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”

Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, www.floridajolt.com, The Counterterrorist Magazine, American Thinker, Soldier of Fortune, Homeland Security Today, Off Grid, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.

Contact him at [email protected].