Michigan Laws Relating to Workplace Violence

A summary of Michigan laws relating to weapons and conduct that impact workplace violence.

It is unlawful to purchase, carry or transport a pistol in Michigan without first obtaining a license for the pistol. In addition, a person may not carry a concealed dangerous weapon, other than a hunting knife, or have a dangerous weapon, concealed or otherwise, in a vehicle, except in the person's home, place of business or other land possessed by the person.

Carrying a concealed pistol on or about one's person or, concealed or otherwise, in a vehicle operated or occupied by the person without a license, except in one's home, place of business or on land one possesses is unlawful. The prohibitions against carrying weapons without a license apply to private individuals, not to law enforcement or military personnel.

A pistol may be carried in the trunk or passenger compartment of a vehicle without a trunk if it is unloaded and in a wrapper or container.

It is unlawful to have a firearm in one's possession or under one's control while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

With certain exceptions, it is a rebuttable presumption in a civil or criminal case that an individual who uses deadly force or force other than deadly force under the self-defense act has an honest and reasonable belief that imminent death of, sexual assault of, or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another individual will occur if both of the following apply:

the individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used is in the process of breaking and entering a dwelling or business premises or committing home invasion or has broken and entered a dwelling or business premises or committed home invasion and is still present in the dwelling or business premises, or is unlawfully attempting to remove another individual from a dwelling, business premises, or occupied vehicle against his or her will; and
the individual using deadly force or force other than deadly force honestly and reasonably believes that the individual is engaging in conduct described in item (1) just above.

However, the presumption set forth above does not apply if any of the following circumstances exist:

the individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used, including an owner, lessee, or titleholder, has the legal right to be in the dwelling, business premises, or vehicle and there is not an injunction for protection from domestic violence or a written pretrial supervision order, a probation order, or a parole order of no contact against that person
the individual removed or being removed from the dwelling, business premises, or occupied vehicle is a child or grandchild of, or is otherwise in the lawful custody of or under the lawful guardianship of, the individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used
the individual who uses deadly force or force other than deadly force is engaged in the commission of a crime or is using the dwelling, business premises, or occupied vehicle to further the commission of a crime
the individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used is a peace officer who has entered or is attempting to enter a dwelling, business premises, or vehicle in the performance of his or her official duties in accordance with applicable law
the individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used is the spouse or former spouse of the individual using deadly force or force other than deadly force, an individual with whom the individual using deadly force or other than deadly force has or had a dating relationship, an individual with whom the individual using deadly force or other than deadly force has had a child in common, or a resident or former resident of his or her household, and the individual using deadly force or other than deadly force has a prior history of domestic violence as the aggressor