The Criminal Defense Law Center of
West Michigan
Facing a firearm charge in West Michigan is a high-stakes battle against your Second Amendment rights. In 2026, Michigan’s gun laws are more restrictive than ever, with new mandates on safe storage and red flag confiscations. Whether you are facing a Felony Firearm charge or a CCW violation, you must hire the best West Michigan attorney around Shawn Haff right away.
At the Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan, we move with professional urgency to protect your freedom and your right to bear arms from aggressive prosecution in the 17th Circuit Court.
The legal landscape for gun owners changed drastically between 2024 and 2026. Understanding these specific statutes is the first step in your defense.
Carrying a concealed pistol without a valid CPL, or carrying a “dangerous weapon” (including certain knives) in a vehicle, is a 5-year felony. In 2026, Kent County prosecutors are strictly enforcing the “concealment” definition, even for guns found in center consoles or under seats during routine traffic stops.
This is the most dangerous charge in Michigan. If you possess a firearm during the commission of another felony—even if the gun wasn’t used—you face a mandatory 2-year prison sentence that must be served consecutively to any other sentence. This means no parole and no early release.
Under the newest Michigan mandates:
Safe Storage (MCL 28.429): If a minor gains access to an unsecured firearm, you can face a 15-year felony if a shooting occurs.
ERPO (Red Flag Law): Police or family members can now petition the court to temporarily seize your firearms. We move with professional urgency to challenge these orders and secure the return of your property.
We don’t just ask for leniency; we dismantle the prosecution’s case using 2026 constitutional standards.
Most firearm arrests in Grand Rapids stem from traffic stops on US-131 or I-196. We scrutinize police body-cam footage to ask:
Did the officer have a valid legal reason for the stop?
Was the search of your vehicle based on “probable cause” or an illegal hunch?
If your 4th Amendment rights were violated, we file a Motion to Suppress to have the gun evidence thrown out.
If a firearm was found in a shared vehicle or home, the prosecution must prove you had knowledge and control of the weapon. If the gun belonged to a passenger or roommate and you were unaware of its presence, we fight for an immediate dismissal.
In 2026, the right to defend your home and family is under scrutiny. We specialize in substantiating self-defense claims, proving that the use of a firearm was a justified response to an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm.
Shawn Haff is the best West Michigan attorney for a reason: we provide a sophisticated shield against all criminal allegations. If your firearm charge is linked to other crimes, we are ready to defend:
DUI and Drunk Driving: Protecting your record when a firearm is found during an OWI stop.
Domestic Violence: Fighting “Red Flag” seizures and protecting your 2nd Amendment rights during household disputes.
Retail Fraud and Shoplifting: Ensuring a minor mistake doesn’t escalate into a felony weapon charge.
Criminal Sexual Conduct: Defending against the most serious allegations with aggressive, expert strategy.
No. Despite national trends, Michigan still requires a valid Concealed Pistol License (CPL) to carry a concealed weapon. Open carry is legal in some areas but carries heavy risks of “Brandishing” charges.
Under MCL 750.224f, felons lose their firearm rights for 3 to 5 years (or indefinitely for “specified felonies”) until their rights are formally restored. Possessing a gun as a felon is a 5-year felony.
Call 616-438-6719 immediately. You have a right to a hearing to challenge the seizure. We move with professional urgency to prove the order was based on false or exaggerated claims.
Criminal Defense Attorney Shawn Haff of The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan will provide aggressive representation to anyone charged with firearm crimes in all West Michigan courts.
Please don’t hire another attorney or law firm until you’ve talked with Lawyer Shawn Haff who is the Best Grand Rapids Gun charge defense lawyer around. Attorney Shawn Haff of The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan will be happy to talk with you about the firearm crimes you are being charged with at 616-438-6719.
If you run into law enforcement while carrying a concealed weapon, you must disclose to the officer that you are in possession of a concealed weapon. The officer will then ask to be presented with a valid CPL license and for identification. If the officer finds out that a person has a concealed weapon without being told about it, a misdemeanor charge can be issued. If this happens to you, you need a gun lawyer in Grand Rapids, MI to help you out immediately.
Ammunition and Michigan gun laws are very complex and often intersect with federal laws and regulations. Because of this, the assistance of a gun law lawyer in Grand Rapids is essential.
Remember, a CPL can be revoked or suspended for any reason at all. Reinstatement can be very hard to get.
A CPL can be revoked or suspended for a number of reasons, and reinstatement can be extremely difficult. In addition, even a minor misdemeanor offense can cause serious problems.
Any citizen who wans to exercise their right to own a firearm will not always be encouraged to do so in American society. Given the recent negative attention that has been given to firearm charges, it is important to have a Grand Rapids gun charge defense lawyer on your side. Call Shawn now at 616-438-6719 for a free case strategy session. Don’t wait, call now!
If you are a convicted felon you must meet certain requirements before you are lawfully allowed to carry a firearm. If you, as a qualifying felon, are caught in possession of a firearm, you could be facing charges that are a felony and a prison term of 5 years along with potential fines of up to $5,000.
Carrying a concealed weapon in Michigan can result in serious charges. It is a felony and unlawful in Michigan to carry a firearm or other dangerous weapon. With respect to a handgun in Michigan, it is illegal to carry a handgun on your person, or concealed, or in a vehicle without a license to carry a concealed weapon. Additionally, if you are licensed to carry a concealed firearm, you must do so consistent with the rules issued at the time of licensing.
The penalty for CCW, carrying a concealed weapon, in Michigan, is that you may face up to 5 years in prison and $2,500 in fines.
It is a separate felony to possess a firearm at the time of the commission of a crime in Michigan. this charge is called felony firearm. When a crime is committed in Michigan and the defendant is in possession of a firearm, the statute calls for a 2-year mandatory sentence in prison. This sentence will be added to any additional penalties for the original charge.
In certain criminal cases, additional charges can be added because the offender was in possession of a firearm at the time of the offense. Felony Firearm Possession charges are very serious charges and can result in mandatory prison time which may be added to whatever sentence you receive for the initial crime you are accused of committing. Anyone charged with Felony Firearm possession in Grand Rapids or any West Michigan county needs to contact The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan right away! Our felony firearm lawyers will aggressively defend you against these charges.
Felony Firearm Possession can result from all drug crimes, gang violence, assault, and other criminal cases, and without a skilled attorney, could lead to years in prison. Always speak with a criminal defense lawyer as soon as you can and make sure your rights are fully protected.
The extremely tough punishments prescribed by the felony firearm penalty clearly shows us that the legislature intended to discourage a criminal from using a gun while committing an act that is a felony in the state of Michigan. When a firearm is being used during the commission of a felony, the chance of a serious injury or death increases dramtically. An experienced felony firearm lawyer will make sure that your rights, liberties, and best interests are guarded.
Defenses that can defeat a felony firearm charge include proving that the defendant can show there was no knowledge of the existence or location of the firearm that the prosecutor claims was used during the commission of the felony crime. The prosecution must also prove that the firearm was accessible to the person charged with committing a felony with a firearm. If there was no firearm using during the commission of a felony, this is a powerful defense against the charge. Self-defense can be raised as a defense if there is evidence to support the claim. There are some people who try to claim that because their gun was not loaded they can’t be charged with felony firearm. This is false. The gun does not need to be loaded. The gun does not need to be operable. The person who is the victim of the crime needs to believe the weapon was loaded or operable.
If you are under investigation for Felony Firearm Possession call our firm right away to get a free initial consultation. We know what it takes to get you the best results possible.
Possessing a gun does not have to involve you actually carrying the gun with you, and could just mean that you had a firearm in your house along with illicit narcotics, in your car during the commission of a crime, or concealed on your person. Although the gun may not have been connected to the offense or involved in committing a crime, prosecutors may push for additional charges.