Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 750 / Act 328 of 1931
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222 (2026)

Definitions.

✓ current as of July 2026
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THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE


Act 328 of 1931


750.222 Definitions.

Sec. 222.

    As used in this chapter:

    (a) "Alcoholic liquor" means that term as defined in section 105 of the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1105.

    (b) "Barrel length" means the internal length of a firearm as measured from the face of the closed breech of the firearm when it is unloaded, to the forward face of the end of the barrel.

    (c) "Brandish" means to point, wave about, or display in a threatening manner with the intent to induce fear in another person.

    (d) "Controlled substance" means a controlled substance or controlled substance analogue as those terms are defined in section 7104 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7104.

    (e) "Firearm" means any weapon which will, is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by action of an explosive.

    (f) "Pistol" means a loaded or unloaded firearm that is 26 inches or less in length, or a loaded or unloaded firearm that by its construction and appearance conceals itself as a firearm.

    (g) "Pneumatic gun" means that term as defined in section 1 of 1990 PA 319, MCL 123.1101.

    (h) "Purchaser" means a person who receives a pistol from another person by purchase, gift, or loan.

    (i) "Rifle" means a firearm designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled bore for each single pull of the trigger.

    (j) "Seller" means a person who sells, furnishes, loans, or gives a pistol to another person.

    (k) "Short-barreled rifle" means a rifle having 1 or more barrels less than 16 inches in length or a weapon made from a rifle, whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise, if the weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches.

    (l) "Short-barreled shotgun" means a shotgun having 1 or more barrels less than 18 inches in length or a weapon made from a shotgun, whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise, if the weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches.

    (m) "Shotgun" means a firearm designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single function of the trigger.

History: 1931, Act 328, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931 ;-- CL 1948, 750.222 ;-- Am. 1964, Act 215, Eff. Aug. 28, 1964 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 564, Imd. Eff. Dec. 29, 1978 ;-- Am. 1992, Act 217, Imd. Eff. Oct. 13, 1992 ;-- Am. 2001, Act 135, Eff. Feb. 1, 2002 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 242, Eff. Jan. 1, 2013 ;-- Am. 2015, Act 26, Eff. July 1, 2015 ;-- Am. 2015, Act 28, Eff. Aug. 10, 2015

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 63 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1968–2026 · leading case: People v. Peals, 720 N.W.2d 196 (Mich. 2006).
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People v. Peals, 720 N.W.2d 196 (Mich. 2006). · cites it 128× “This conclusion is supported by definitions of other terms contained in MCL 750.222. The surrounding provisions use the term "firearm" as a predicate or base term to define specific types of firearms.”
People v. Hill, 446 N.W.2d 140 (Mich. 1989). · cites it 8× “421(2) and MCL 750.222(d); MSA 28.419(d), requires that I disagree.”
People v. Ackah-Essien, 874 N.W.2d 172 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 5× “” MCL 750.222(d). Indeed, the Legislature has excluded smooth-bore, .”
People v. Humphrey, 877 N.W.2d 770 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 16× “” Accordingly, defendant argued that no reasonable trier of fact could find that the weapon recovered from defendant was operable, and therefore, the trial court *313 should dismiss the CCW charge because the pistol did not constitute a firearm under MCL 750.”
People v. Brown, 642 N.W.2d 382 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 6× “” MCL 750.222(b). Defendant argues that an inoperable handgun does not qualify as a “firearm” under this statutory definition because such a handgun cannot expel a dangerous projectile.”
People v. Osantowski, 736 N.W.2d 289 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “” MCL 750.222(d). There is no question that the guns themselves were relevant and admissible with regard to the felony-firearm charge, because evidence was presented that the firearms in defendant’s possession were those he was convicted of illegally receiving and concealing.”
United States v. Ronald Driscoll, 970 F.2d 1472 (6th Cir. 1992). “2d at 135 ; see Mich.Comp.Laws Ann. § 750.222(a), (d). It concluded, therefore, that Michigan had not intended to restrict a felon’s ability to possess all types of firearms, and that Michigan would have allowed the defendant to own shotguns.”
People v. Laney, 669 N.W.2d 583 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “§ 750.222(d) and M.C.L. § 28.421(c) provided that, a "`[p]urchaser' means a person who receives a pistol from another person by purchase, gift, or loan.”
People v. Hock Shop Inc., 681 N.W.2d 669 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004). ““Seller” is defined in MCL 750.222(g) as “a person who sells, furnishes, loans, or gives a pistol to another person.”
People v. Huizenga, 439 N.W.2d 922 (Mich. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 8× “It is not a firearm since it did not meet the statutory definition of being capable of propelling a dangerous projectile, MCL 8.”
People v. Sanchez, 296 N.W.2d 312 (Mich. Ct. App. 1980). · cites it 2× “See also MCL 750.222; MSA 28.419 and MCL 752.841; MSA 28.”
People v. Jiminez, 183 N.W.2d 853 (Mich. Ct. App. 1970). · cites it 2× ““Pistol” is defined in MCLA § 750.222 (Stat Ann 1970 Cum Supp § 28.”
Show all 63 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(a) — 3 cases
United States v. Ronald Driscoll, 970 F.2d 1472 (6th Cir. 1992). “2d at 135 ; see Mich.Comp.Laws Ann. § 750.222(a), (d). It concluded, therefore, that Michigan had not intended to restrict a felon’s ability to possess all types of firearms, and that Michigan would have allowed the defendant to own shotguns.”
People v. Huizenga, 439 N.W.2d 922 (Mich. Ct. App. 1989). “It is not a firearm since it did not meet the statutory definition of being capable of propelling a dangerous projectile, MCL 8.”
People v. Johnson, 351 N.W.2d 875 (Mich. Ct. App. 1984).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(b) — 2 cases
People v. Brown, 642 N.W.2d 382 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002). “” MCL 750.222(b). Defendant argues that an inoperable handgun does not qualify as a “firearm” under this statutory definition because such a handgun cannot expel a dangerous projectile.”
People v. Peals, 720 N.W.2d 196 (Mich. 2006). “This conclusion is supported by definitions of other terms contained in MCL 750.222. The surrounding provisions use the term "firearm" as a predicate or base term to define specific types of firearms.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(c) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. James Andrew Nelson (Mich. Ct. App. 2026).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(d) — 16 cases
People v. Peals, 720 N.W.2d 196 (Mich. 2006). “This conclusion is supported by definitions of other terms contained in MCL 750.222. The surrounding provisions use the term "firearm" as a predicate or base term to define specific types of firearms.”
People v. Ackah-Essien, 874 N.W.2d 172 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “” MCL 750.222(d). Indeed, the Legislature has excluded smooth-bore, .”
People v. Hill, 446 N.W.2d 140 (Mich. 1989). “421(2) and MCL 750.222(d); MSA 28.419(d), requires that I disagree.”
People v. Humphrey, 877 N.W.2d 770 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “” Accordingly, defendant argued that no reasonable trier of fact could find that the weapon recovered from defendant was operable, and therefore, the trial court *313 should dismiss the CCW charge because the pistol did not constitute a firearm under MCL 750.”
People v. Osantowski, 736 N.W.2d 289 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007). “” MCL 750.222(d). There is no question that the guns themselves were relevant and admissible with regard to the felony-firearm charge, because evidence was presented that the firearms in defendant’s possession were those he was convicted of illegally receiving and concealing.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(e) — 18 cases
People v. Hill, 446 N.W.2d 140 (Mich. 1989). “421(2) and MCL 750.222(d); MSA 28.419(d), requires that I disagree.”
People v. Peals, 720 N.W.2d 196 (Mich. 2006). “This conclusion is supported by definitions of other terms contained in MCL 750.222. The surrounding provisions use the term "firearm" as a predicate or base term to define specific types of firearms.”
People v. Humphrey, 877 N.W.2d 770 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). “” Accordingly, defendant argued that no reasonable trier of fact could find that the weapon recovered from defendant was operable, and therefore, the trial court *313 should dismiss the CCW charge because the pistol did not constitute a firearm under MCL 750.”
People v. Laney, 669 N.W.2d 583 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). “§ 750.222(d) and M.C.L. § 28.421(c) provided that, a "`[p]urchaser' means a person who receives a pistol from another person by purchase, gift, or loan.”
People v. Walker, 420 N.W.2d 194 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(e)(e) — 2 cases
People of Michigan v. Husam Kamil Alzehery (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).
People of Michigan v. Husam Kamil Alzehery (Mich. Ct. App. 2018).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(f) — 2 cases
People of Michigan v. Justin Robert Mosher (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).
People of Michigan v. Kirk Austin Savage (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(g) — 1 case
People v. Hock Shop Inc., 681 N.W.2d 669 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004). ““Seller” is defined in MCL 750.222(g) as “a person who sells, furnishes, loans, or gives a pistol to another person.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(h) — 1 case
People v. Peals, 720 N.W.2d 196 (Mich. 2006). “This conclusion is supported by definitions of other terms contained in MCL 750.222. The surrounding provisions use the term "firearm" as a predicate or base term to define specific types of firearms.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(j) — 1 case
People v. Peals, 720 N.W.2d 196 (Mich. 2006). “This conclusion is supported by definitions of other terms contained in MCL 750.222. The surrounding provisions use the term "firearm" as a predicate or base term to define specific types of firearms.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(k) — 2 cases
People of Michigan v. Kashif Omar Reynolds (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
People of Michigan v. Shayne Chris Smith (Mich. Ct. App. 2022).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.222(l) — 6 cases
People of Michigan v. Shukur Terome Brown (Mich. Ct. App. 2019).
People of Michigan v. Justin Milton Bell (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
People of Michigan v. Justin Milton Bell (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
People of Michigan v. Justin Milton Bell (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
People of Michigan v. Justin Milton Bell (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
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