Some changes to how concealed handgun licenses are issued take effect this week. Three-member county gun boards are no longer part of the mix, with their duty of issuing, denying, revoking or suspending licenses transferring to county clerks. State police will be responsible for background checks to ensure someone who’s not legally supposed to have a pistol, doesn’t get one.First Lieutenant Chris Hawkins of the Michigan State Police says the changes are intended to make a more streamlined system. Issuing or denying a license will also take a little less time because it will happen within 45 days of fingerprints being taken, instead of 45 days within a licensing board getting a fingerprint analysis. The application fee now costs $100, down from $105. However, the renewal cost has gone up $10 to $115.
