Gun sales in 2024 drop in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - A new study from Safe Home shows gun sale statistics across the country.

Using data the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, the numbers show a decline the gun sales in Michigan.

According to the study, there were an estimated 481,870 gun sales last year alone, a drop of 13.3% from 2023.

Michigan ranked as the state with the third steepest drop in gun sales, trailing Washington (-45.7%) and Connecticut (-13.5%).

“A gun can’t be used to harm someone if a gun isn’t in someone’s hands,” Loretta Stanaway said.

Stanaway, a gun owner herself, says she didn’t expect to see numbers decline.

“From the people I’m in connection with, I hear a lot more about people arming themselves for self-defense. So to hear there is a decrease in the sales of guns is surprising,” she said.

As sales lower, Stanaway hopes it will lead to “less violence and a much better quality of life” for people.

Others, like Linda Danders, attribute some of the legislation in Michigan as a factor contributing for the drop. Danders mentioned “more comprehensive” background checks could have impacted sales.

The study, as well, attributes “several major firearm reforms” to potentially making a difference with the data. In 2024, Michigan saw “expanded universal background checks to cover private sales and implemented strict safe storage laws, with felony penalties for violations involving minors.” A year prior, legislation was passed to “expand gun-free zones to government buildings.”

Michael Lynn, with the Advocates Firearm Academy and CEO of the Lansing Empowerment Network, says lower numbers may be misleading.

“Guns are one of those things that once people have them, if they’re not somebody who’s a collector, then they have them. Ultimately, that means people have their guns already. Maybe they’re not purchasing,” he said.

But, he also, says legislation like safe storage laws contributed.

“Now they have laws in place to make it a little more difficult for somebody to just walk in and purchase a gun, so...The safe storage laws that are in place, were hoping that comes more prevalent,” Lynn said.

In 2025, from January through April, Home Safe reports 159,547 gun sales. That is on pace for 478,641 gun sales for the full year, which would be another drop.

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