Grand Rapids Gun Trends

There are many gun related trends in Grand Rapids that can vary depending on what is going on in the area. What happens with guns crimes, as with other types of crimes, is if there are high publicity cases in the news at the time that a person is charged, and those high publicity cases deal with gun crime or there is some other tragedy that is happening because of the discharge of a gun, then these things factor into how the crime is handled.

It may be unfair to be punished for someone else’s crime, but that is sometimes the way it is. For example, when there is a spike in gun crimes in Grand Rapids, that may translate into the police and prosecutors feeling like they need to more aggressively enforce the laws that try to lessen the impact of gun crime in the city.

To better understand the gun trends in Grand Rapids and how they may impact your case, it is imperative to consult with an experienced Grand Rapids gun attorney as soon as possible.

Grand Rapids police and prosecutors are more focused on the possession of guns than the distribution of guns because it is much more common for people with concealed pistol licenses (CPLs) to transport than it is to distribute weapons. There is not much unlawful distribution of firearms “under the table,” in dark alleys, or behind doors in smoke-filled rooms, because it is relatively easy to purchase a weapon in Michigan. Almost anybody who wants to own a gun can get one lawfully.

Therefore, there is not much opportunity for the police to enforce laws related to the unlawful distribution of firearms. People without CPLs are also frequently charged with CCW or carrying a concealed weapon in Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids has been experiencing, for several years, an economic renaissance, which has impacted the gun trends in the city. This has brought a lot of economic opportunities. Most of Grand Rapids does not experience gun crimes, particularly in more of the rural areas surrounding the city. Grand Rapids is a city of great resilience economically, and fared better than any other areas in the state during the 2008 recession. All this economic prosperity has translated in lower crime rates in general.

There are a lot of specific facts and circumstances that may make what a person believes could be lawful behavior unlawful. For example, they might carry a weapon in their vehicle and have the magazine unloaded but the chamber loaded and find themselves in violation of the law in that way.

Also, it is common for people who are CPL holders to be charged with drunk driving while in possession of a weapon, and this exposes them to an additional charge of carrying a concealed weapon under the influence of alcohol.

Even having a drunk driving offense on a person’s record will make it more difficult for them to purchase a gun in the future, and may make it near impossible to obtain a CPL. There are a lot of specific manifestations with the law that if a person is going to be carrying a gun or using a gun in Grand Rapids, it is important that they make sure that they know what those manifestations are. The best way to understand these Grand Rapids gun trends is to speak with a knowledgeable attorney.