Minnesota Session Laws - 2012, Regular Session

CHAPTER 194--H.F.No. 1816

An act

relating to public safety; authorizing federally licensed firearms importers, manufacturers, and dealers to possess and sell firearm silencers to government agencies, the military, and other licensed firearms importers, manufacturers, and dealers;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 609.66, subdivision 1h.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 609.66, subdivision 1h, is amended to read:

Subd. 1h.

Silencers; authorized for law enforcement and wildlife control purposes.

(a) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), licensed peace officers may use devices designed to silence or muffle the discharge of a firearm for tactical emergency response operations. Tactical emergency response operations include execution of high risk search and arrest warrants, incidents of terrorism, hostage rescue, and any other tactical deployments involving high risk circumstances. The chief law enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency that has the need to use silencing devices must establish and enforce a written policy governing the use of the devices.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), an enforcement officer, as defined in section 97A.015, subdivision 18, a wildlife area manager, an employee designated under section 84.0835, or a person acting under contract with the commissioner of natural resources, at specific times and locations that are authorized by the commissioner of natural resources may use devices designed to silence or muffle the discharge of a firearm for wildlife control operations that require stealth. If the commissioner determines that the use of silencing devices is necessary under this paragraph, the commissioner must establish and enforce a written policy governing the use, possession, and transportation of the devices.

new text begin (c) Notwithstanding subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), clause (1), a person who is licensed by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under United States Code, title 18, section 923, as a firearms importer, manufacturer, or dealer, who is acting in full compliance with all federal requirements under that license, may possess devices designed to silence or muffle the discharge of a firearm for the purpose of selling or otherwise transferring in any lawful manner the devices or firearms tested with the devices, to: new text end

new text begin (1) the chief administrator of any federal, state, or local governmental agency; new text end

new text begin (2) the commander or commander's designee of any unit of the United States Armed Forces; or new text end

new text begin (3) a person who is licensed by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under United States Code, title 18, section 923, as a firearms importer, manufacturer, or dealer, who is acting in full compliance with all federal requirements under that license. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2012. new text end

Presented to the governor April 17, 2012

Signed by the governor April 18, 2012, 01:58 p.m.