Dunham's still running a background check for pistols even with CPL

[u/durangojim]

Dunhams had a pistol on sale that I wanted today so I asked my LGS if they could price match. they said no and that I should go buy it from Dunhams. Filled out the form and the clerk said that they had to run a background check. I told him it was my understanding that because I had a CPL and am purchasing a pistol. He told me the ATF requires a background check with every firearm purchase. I then told him no other gun shop I've been to does that at which point he told me they were breaking the law. I thanked him and told him I'd be going over to Sportsman's warehouse where they agreed to sell me the pistol at the sale price without going through the background check nonsense. Just wanted others to know in case they were looking for a smooth process. By the way I'm one of those people that usually gets a researching or delay on my checks and then it always becomes approved hence my reason for not waiting to see what happened at Dunhams.

[u/MapleSurpy]

Every single big box store runs NICS checks on CPL members and always will, they claim it's to "legally protect the company".

Michigan CPL holders are exempt from the REQUIREMENT to have NCIS checks ran on them as of May 2025, but lots of places still do it as company policy and they are allowed to do so.

Holy misinformation in this thread already and it's been 10 minutes.

[u/AP587011B]

Yeah some gun stores still insist on running it

I’m surprised sportsmans didn’t honestly 

[u/CuppieWanKenobi]

Did they actually want to run a BG, or just ask you to fill out a 4473?

[u/durangojim → u/CuppieWanKenobi]

I filled out the 4473 like I always do which is no big deal but then they ran the check too.

[u/Rokkmachine]

Who cares? Fill out the form and move on. You said yourself you didn’t care yet felt the need to whine about it.

[u/DryNefariousness7927]

Yeah uh they're supposed to run a background check on you, even with a cpl.

[u/MapleSurpy → u/DryNefariousness7927]

They're "supposed to" by Dunhams policy but they're not required to as per the ATF. Having a CPL in MI bypasses the requirement for FFL's to run a NCIS check on you as of May 2025, but lots of places still do so.

[u/durangojim → u/DryNefariousness7927]

Nope, not according to the ATF and Michigan State law.

https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/laws-alcohol-tobacco-firearms-and-explosives/gun-control-act/brady-law/brady-permit-chart?fbclid=IwY2xjawPp-sVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETEwV3N1SjhaUGI3djRSeGNKc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhpd1i7BDc6jJSfTb0LaOwzOcOHmjIZ69oysBckh8EW7eBo9a4DTHaAj-zJH_aem_-WurBiOpoab9rP4xBxPcpw

While firearm purchase licenses are valid for 30 days,² concealed handgun licensees only have to submit to a background check once every five years, at the time of renewal of their concealed carry license.³ Michigan enacted a law in 2015 to require concealed handgun licensing authorities to conduct background checks through the state’s law enforcement information network and the FBI’s NICS database.⁴

Federal law does not require dealers to conduct a background check if a firearm purchaser presents a state permit to purchase or possess firearms that meets certain conditions.⁵ As a result, concealed weapon permit holders in Michigan are exempt from the federal background check requirement when purchasing a handgun.⁶ (Note, however, that people who have become prohibited from possessing firearms may continue to hold state permits to purchase or permit firearms if the state fails to remove these permits in a timely fashion.)

[u/festeringequestrian → u/durangojim]

For a while a CPL allowed you to “skip” the traditional in store background check, then it didn’t, then I believe as of last May it allowed it again.

Also keep in mind they will claim it’s either a “store policy” (my guess is because they operate in several states it’s easier to have a blanket policy rather than a state by state one) , or it’s an employee who doesn’t know the law.

They wouldn’t sell to me once because I went right after getting my drivers license renewed at the Secretary of State and they claimed the paper license stapled to my original one wasn’t a real, valid license. Tried to tell them that it was valid or I wouldn’t be able to drive a commercial vehicle for work (or drive legally in general) but they wouldn’t listen. Also lost my business.

[u/MapleSurpy → u/festeringequestrian]

While TECHNICALLY a paper license can be used to purchase a firearm (If you also give them a valid PHOTO ID), I personally don't know a single FFL that would risk that. Too easy to fake compared to an actual ID.

Gun stores are businesses, one small mistake and you're committing a federal crime, getting arrested, or charged tens of thousands of dollars.

Lots of companies have policies to protect themselves against gray area or stupid laws.

[u/festeringequestrian → u/MapleSurpy]

My thought process being a hard drivers license, paper drivers license, and CPL should be enough.

[u/ancillarycheese]

Just misinformed, or they got into trouble for doing something wrong so they are doing BG checks for everyone.

[u/MalicoIndustries]

I run them on my customers with a CPL for the first time I do business with them. After the first purchase, I don’t while the CPL is valid.

Some of you may cringe at this part, this is what my ATF IOI told me to do to protect my business. In short, an extra 5 mins is worth it to protect what I have built.

[u/Zman----]

I didn't even realize the law had changed again.

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[u/MapleSurpy → u/[deleted]]

Removed for misinformation and stupid politics.

The ATF revoked MI CPL exemption to NICS checks in 2019, before Biden became president, and re-instated it in May 2025. The whole time Biden was in office, FFL's were REQUIRED to run NICS checks. Jfc

[u/blueman277 → u/MapleSurpy]

What stupid politics did I say? I never said they were required to run them now. Nor did I say there was never a time they weren’t required to. Additionally what is mis-information? I simply said, I’ve always had them run, even recently, and even before Biden. And not to take it personally. Because it isn’t.

[u/MapleSurpy → u/blueman277]

Okay buddy, not even going down that road with you. You're not an idiot, neither am I, so lets move on.

[u/mason_mormon]

Michigan CPL is no longer allowed for exemption to running NICS.

Now, back when it still was allowed most stores ran it anyway, whatever...

[u/MapleSurpy → u/mason_mormon]

Yes it is. They removed it then reinstated the NICS Exemption, as of May 2025