FAQs

Do you charge by the hour? The quick answer is no, we do not charge by the hour. In 2020, Melissa Pearce decided to change the way we bill our clients for our services. Now, every matter that we handle is billed on a flat fee basis. This means that the price for your representation…

Can a gun trust prevent my firearms from being banned by the government? With federal bills being proposed to implement or strengthen gun control measures at the national level, we have had several questions asking whether a gun trust will protect the owner from the proposed firearm bans. Unfortunately, if a proposed bill would ban…

How Can I Prepare My Family for Self-Defense? The Boy Scouts of America have a motto “Be Prepared.” It is taught from Cub Scouts through Venturing and stresses the importance of being ready to deal with whatever will arise at a given moment. The news tells stories of young men on camping trips were able…

Can I Defend My Children with My Gun? Two weeks ago, I wrote about the pitfalls of defending another person. The biggest pitfall being that one cannot often know what is happening and who is the aggressor. But what if the third party is your own child? First, the same law would apply that I…

What Are Common Concealed Carry Mistakes? When it comes to concealed carry, Michigan has neither the most stringent nor the most lenient laws in the nation. Currently, concealed carry is allowed with a permit and open carry is allowed without a permit. In June this year, legislation was introduced in the House that would authorize concealed carry without a permit. That…

Do Red Flag Laws Work? Over the last few weeks, I have been blogging about the trend across the country to pass what is referred to as “red flag” laws. So far, we have explored what they are, the names that are used to refer to them, and both sides of the argument in support…

What Are Extreme Risk Laws? Red flag laws seek to temporarily remove guns and prohibit future purchases of gun for those individuals who have been identified as being in crisis and presenting a significant risk of harming themselves or the community at large. There are two opposing views to the passage of red flags laws.…

Are Red Flag Laws Constitutional? In the past, we have examined the history of red flag laws, the arguments both for and against the adoption of red flags laws, and the studies that evaluated how effective the adoption of such laws has been in those states. This week, we are addressing the intersection of due…

What Are Red Flag Laws in Michigan? In 2019, two shootings, El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, along with President Trump’s call for states to pass extreme risk protection order laws stirred up discussions among people I know about the intent of these laws and the potential conflict with due process rights. However, extreme risk…

Who Should Be Named In My Gun Trust? One of the questions I hear when meeting with clients for the strategy session is: Who should be named in my gun trust document. This always evolves into a discussion on who they have in mind and that person’s status under federal law. The status I am…

What is a Gun Trust? Estate planning for firearm owners is not the same as an estate plan for a young married couple with small children. While the firearm owner may be the young married couple with small children, the estate plan for firearms needs to discuss when, to whom, and how to properly transfer…

What is a NFA Gun Trust? If you want to leave your beloved shotgun to your nephew when you die, can you just write it in your Will and expect that it will happen? The answer is a resounding no. Just as there are regulations involving the transfer or sale of firearms when you are…

How Do I Keep my Guns Safely At Home? It seems as if we everyday we hear a news story about another child who got access to their parent’s gun and injured themselves or another—or worse. Most of these accidents are preventable, and gun owners need to take to keep guns safely at home. Here…

A Step-By-Step Guide to Obtaining Your Concealed Pistol License Both the Michigan State Constitution and the Second Amendment confirm and protect the rights of all citizens to own and bear arms. Michigan is a “shall issue” state, meaning that any person who meets certain criteria and requirements may obtain a concealed carry license. State Requirements…

What are the Benefits of a Gun Trust? After the enactment of Rule 41F, which became effective July 13, 2016, the common question we hear is, “What is the benefit of a gun trust now that it is no longer needed to avoid the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) approval for the possession or use…

Can I Open Carry in Michigan? Both current and aspiring gun owners in Michigan have one thing in common: they need to be familiar with the state gun laws as well as regulations from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)  and federal law. Knowledge of applicable requirements, restrictions, and regulations ensures that you are…