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Gun laws in Minnesota regulate the sale, possession, and use offirearms andammunition in the state ofMinnesota in the United States.[1]
| Subject / law | Long guns | Handguns | Relevant statutes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State permit required to purchase? | No* | Yes | §624.7131 | Permit to purchase required to transfer/purchase long guns with a pistol grip and handguns through FFL dealers. A permit to carry also acts as a permit to purchase for Minnesota residents. Traditional rifles and shotguns may be purchased without a permit. |
| Firearm registration? | No | No | ||
| Assault-style weapon law? | Yes | Yes | §624.7131 | Persons 18 and older may purchase assault-style weapons with a permit to purchase (or permit to carry for persons 21 and older). |
| Magazine Capacity Restriction? | No | No | ||
| Owner license required? | No | No | ||
| Permit required for concealed carry? | N/A | Yes | §624.714 | Shall Issue. Minnesota Permit to Carry a Pistol required to carry handguns. Concealment is permitted but not required. |
| Permit required for open carry? | Yes | Yes | §624.7181 | Whoever carries a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun on or about the person in a public place is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. A person under the age of 21 who carries a semiautomatic military-style assault weapon on or about their person in public place is guilty of a felony. However, one may carry a pistol or a long gun openly with permit to carry a pistol because, the law states that the prohibition on carrying does not include the carrying of a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun by a person who has a permit under section624.714. |
| State Preemption of local restrictions? | Yes | Yes | §471.633 | Municipalities may regulate the discharge of firearms within their borders. |
| NFA weapons restricted? | Yes | Yes | §609.67 | Machine guns and short-barreled shotguns, unless designated Curios & Relics, are prohibited in most cases. Some destructive devices are prohibited in most cases. Sound suppressors and short barreled rifles are legal. |
| Peaceable Journey laws? | Yes | Yes | §97B.045§624.714, Subd. 9 | Any legally possessed gun may be transported in a motor vehicle, provided it is unloaded and cased. |
| Background checks required for private sales? | No* | Yes | https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/624.7132 | Long guns also require a background check if equipped with a pistol grip. As explained in subdivision 2, a background check for a private sale can be more thorough than the background check for a sale through a FFL holder. |
As of March 1, 2020, there were 301,268 permits issued to carry openly or concealed in Minnesota.[2]
Minnesota is a "shall issue" state for Permit(s) to Carry a Pistol openly or concealed.
Some counties have adoptedSecond Amendment sanctuary resolutions.[4]
There are private seller regulations in Minnesota.[5] Private sales do require a background check.[6]
A private seller is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if a private transfer is made to a prohibited person, who can be reasonably suspected as a prohibited person, who then uses or possesses the firearm during the commission of a felony crime of violence within one year of the transfer.[7][8][9]
All federally licensed firearms dealers must perform background checks at gun shows.[10]