There is an exception for a person licensed in Michigan to carry a concealed pistol. He or she must obtain a Pistol Sales Record (RI-060) any time he or she purchases or otherwise acquires a pistol, pursuant to MCL 28.422a.

The police authority will check for any criminal record at both the state and national level.

An applicant must comply with all state and federal laws prior to the issuance of the license.  The following are state and federal laws that prohibit an individual from receiving a license:

Michigan - MCL 28.422

Probable cause to believe that the applicant would be a threat to himself or herself or to other individuals, or would commit an offense with the pistol that would violate a law of this or another state of the United States. 

• MCL 330.1464a - Involuntary hospitalization or alternative treatment program
• MCL 700.444a - Legally incapacitated (now MCL 700.5107)
• MCL 600.2950 - Personal Protection Order
• The Personal Protection Order must be active.  Inactive PPOs will stay on file for five years for historical purposes.
• MCL 600.2950a - Stalking
• MCL 552.14 - Restraining Order
• MCL 765.6b - Release subject to protective conditions
• MCL 769.16b - Not guilty by reason of insanity

Under 18 

Not a U.S. citizen or resident alien and a resident of Michigan 

Prohibited from possessing, using, transporting, etc. under MCL 750.224f 

Adjudged insane in this state or elsewhere, unless restored to sanity by court order 

Under an order of involuntary commitment in an inpatient or outpatient setting due to mental illness

Adjudged legally incapacitated

Unable to correctly answer 70% of the questions on the basic pistol safety questionnaire.

Federal - 18 USC §922(g) & (n)

Under indictment for or have been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year 

Fugitive of justice 

Unlawful user of, or addicted to, any controlled substance (convicted, of possession within last year, multiple arrests for possession within the past five years if most recent arrest occurred within the past year, or positive drug test within last year)

Adjudicated as mental defective or been committed to any mental institution 

Alien and is illegally or unlawfully in the U.S. (alien without permanent residence status) 

Dishonorably discharged from the military 

Formally renounced U.S. citizenship

Subject to a court order prohibiting harassing, stalking, or threatening of an intimate partner or child of such intimate partner or from engaging in other conduct that would place the partner or child in reasonable fear of bodily injury 

Convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (does not have to be classified as a "domestic crime")

Under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year

If the purchaser is not a U.S. Citizen, an Immigrant-Alien Query (IAQ) check must be conducted through NLETS.  An agency MUST wait for a response before proceeding.  This could take up to three days.

If the reply to the NICS check reveals no state or federal prohibitors, the license process may proceed.  The applicant must answer gun related questions on a Basic Pistol Safety Questionnaire, with at least 70% correct, and swear before a notary that they meet the statutory requirements to own a pistol.

The License to Purchase a Pistol form must be completed even though the applicant may already have possession of a pistol, such as through an inheritance. Federal firearms licensed dealers are not exempt from this section of the law and must also get a license any time they purchase/acquire a pistol from an individual or another gun dealer. There is an exemption only for dealers purchasing pistols directly from the manufacturer or wholesaler.

If the law enforcement agency determines that the applicant is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm, an NICS Guide for Appealing a Firearm Transfer DENIAL pamphlet, with the NICS Transaction Number (NTN) written on the cover is provided to the applicant.

A License to Purchase a Pistol is valid for 10 days to purchase a pistol. The seller must sign the license and keep one copy for his/her records. An individual must keep a copy and return two copies to the local police department within 10 days of purchasing the pistol.

Some agencies require all unused license to purchase forms be returned to them for record keeping purposes.

These forms are licenses to purchase a pistol and the purpose is not to circumvent the required NICS (National Instant Check System) check when buying a shotgun or rifle from an FFL dealer.