It may be a state thing as the Federal law allows the sale as it is a standard transfer between FFLs.
Michigan is my home and I am trying to get my ducks in a row so I can come home in about two years. I have a place south of Cadillac by the Little Manistee River. I have a lot of hunting and fishing to catch up on but I hope they change some of those weird gun laws. The stupid "green cards" I had to get when I bought handguns (registration) needs to go. I hope I can just transfer my Virginia CHP for a card up there without all the extra expense that is required in Michigan. My sister just got her concealed card and she put out quite a bit of cash to get it, even using her DD Form 214.
You still have to go to the sheriff dept to get a purchase permit, but you don’t have to go back for that stupid ‘safety inspection’ after the purchase.