People in Minnesota who want to own a gun do not need a permit to have it in their home or business, or even when traveling between their home, business, where the gun was purchased or a repair shop. However, carrying the weapon elsewhere does require that the gun owner go through the appropriate steps to acquire a permit.
Even with the proper paperwork in place, there are many places in which civilians who are carrying a gun could face firearm charges for having the weapon. Knowing the law can prevent unnecessary criminal proceedings.
State laws
According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Minnesota gun laws allow citizens to carry a weapon as long as they meet certain requirements, including that they must be 21 or older; they must not be prohibited from possessing a weapon; and they must live in the same county where the permit has been requested. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension states that once the permit is in place, people who wish to carry the permit must have both the card and a valid driver’s license or government-issued photo identification card on their person.
Despite having a permit, there are still several areas where the state will not allow people to bring firearms, such as the following:
- A correctional facility or federal facility
- A state-run hospital or facility for sex offenders or a facility for people with disabilities and mental illness
- A privately-owned business or establishment that has posted a notice prohibiting firearms
- School property and childcare centers where children are present
It is also possible for other places to restrict guns, such as places of employment and even someone’s private home. Minnesota law does not require people to conceal a gun, though those who wish to do so may.
The consequences of a weapons charge
Violating the state’s weapons laws can result in criminal allegations. For example, possessing a firearm without a permit is considered a gross misdemeanor, punishable by as much as one year in jail. Felony gun charges come with much more serious consequences, such as multiple years in prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines. People who are charged with carrying a firearm without a permit for a second time will face felony penalties. It is also a felony to take a gun into a correctional facility or a number of other places where firearms are banned.
Additionally, many of Minnesota’s criminal statutes have certain enhancements if a gun is present, such as when there are instances of assault, kidnapping, robbery and illegal drug possession. People with questions regarding lawful gun ownership should contact a defense attorney.